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Conrad Mupesa Mashonaland West Bureau
THE current Presidential Rural Development Programme, which seeks to create self-sufficient and sustainable communal areas in line with Vision 2030, has been welcomed by farmers and villagers in Hurungwe district.
Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Minister Dr Anxious Masuka launched the Mashonaland West provincial Presidential Rural Development Programme at Zvipani in Ward 25 of the same district last Wednesday.
The launch coincided with the unveiling of the provincial borehole drilling rig which is part of the rigs being supplied by President Mnangagwa in his quest to provide safe and clean drinking water to 35 000 villages across the country by 2025.
Minister Masuka also emphasised to farmers after a demonstration by the Department of Mechanisation to conserve agricultural soil by creating contours.
Chief Matau said the programme was going to ensure that communities benefit as espoused by President Mnangagwa’s policy of leaving no one and no place behind in development.
“We are grateful to the President for providing us with the borehole rig. Water provision is key and our leader has seen it fit to provide us with clean and safe water.
“The borehole drilling rig helps to address water woes that are faced by villagers who sometimes share unprotected drinking sources with animals,” he said.
Chief Matau added that due to poor soil conservation practices, most dams in his area including Chivakanenyama had silted.
“We implore our communities to put contours to avoid siltation of dams and washing away of topsoil which has agricultural nutritional elements.”
The chief is the first beneficiary of the boreholes in the province with ZINWA expected to drill and equip a borehole at his homestead.
Mr Munyaradzi Ngandini of Chitepo-Matau political district said availing of boreholes under the programme would make most households food and financially secure.
In his remarks, Minister Masuka said the Presidential Rural Development Programme was an accelerator for the attainment of Vision 2030, anchored on the provision of water as a right and an economic enabler.
“Water will cause agricultural development. Agricultural development will cause rural industrialisation. Rural industrialisation will spur rural development which will, in turn, facilitate the attainment of Vision 2030.
“The programme will transform rural communities from being largely economic spectators to largely economic actors and participants,” he said.
Under the Presidential Rural Development Programme, the Government, through the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA), intends to drill and equip a total of 35 000 solar-powered boreholes by 2025 while the irrigation department will provide irrigation infrastructure and a security fence.
An extra borehole will be drilled in each ward for youth development by the water authority.
ARDA supported by Agritex will provide agronomy support while the Agriculture Finance Corporation (AFC) will avail seed financing for cash crops grown in line with a US$8,2 billion agricultural sector by 2025.
“The solar-powered boreholes will then open the way for local communities to establish horticulture gardens, drip irrigation, growing high-value crops, fisheries, piped water scheme together with washing slabs and cattle troughs,” Minister Masuka said.
He added that the Presidential programme was a complete package to address food security, import substitution, poverty alleviation and eradication, employment creation, and access to safe and clean water.
In addition to ZINWA’s mammoth task, the District Development Fund (DDF) will drill boreholes in 9600 wards in the country as part of the Presidential Rural Development Programme.
Mashonaland West Minister of State, Mary Mliswa-Chikoka, said the programme was not mere rhetoric as rural development is now visible.
Online Reporter