Online Reporter
Herald Reporter
MEMBERS of Farmers4ED, a Zanu PF affiliate, met in Ruwa yesterday to reaffirm support for Resolution 1, which seeks to extend President Mnangagwa’s term as national and party leader until 2030.
The revolutionary party resolved at last year’s National Conference in Bulawayo to extend the President’s term to allow him to finish off the many game-changing infrastructure projects that include the construction of schools, clinics, dams and roads, which are critical for the attainment of Vision 2030 of an empowered upper-middle-income society.
Stabilising the economy has also been a key focus of President Mnangagwa, with the new ZiG currency stable since introduction on April 5 last year.
In his address, Farmers4ED chairman Cde Tapiwa Chitate said yesterday’s meeting was critical as it coincided with the forthcoming launches of the 2025-2026 summer cropping season and the Zanu PF National Annual People’s Conference.
“Under the Second Republic, our country has made historic strides in agriculture, which remains the backbone of our economic growth, rural transformation and food sovereignty,” he said. “Comrades, agriculture today contributes over 17 percent to our national GDP and provides employment and livelihoods for over 65 percent of our population.
“It is agriculture that sustains our industries, drives exports, and anchors Zimbabwe’s participation in regional and global markets.”
Cde Chitate said because of the major successes in agriculture and the economy, “our endorsement of Resolution Number 1 today is therefore more than symbolic; It is a clear demonstration of unity, patriotism, and total alignment with the leadership of Cde ED Mnangagwa.
“The President has given us the tools, the policies, and the support to succeed. It is now our responsibility, as farmers, to deliver, to grow more, to export more, and to sustain our households and communities,” he said.
Under the leadership of President Mnangagwa, the agriculture sector had broken several production records especially in the tobacco, wheat and maize sub-sectors.
This year, over 354 million kg of tobacco were delivered to the auction and contract floors, generating upwards of US$1,2 billion for the farmers before any value added by merchants.
Cde Chitate said tobacco is not just a crop, but “a livelihood, a source of dignity, and a pillar of our economy”.
The horticulture sector had been transformed into a global success story, with Zimbabwe becoming a top exporter of blueberries in Africa and competing on supermarket shelves in Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
Wheat harvests has been on the rise too, surpassing national demand of 360 000 tonnes for the first time ever since commercial wheat farming started in the 1960s.
A target of about 600 000 tonnes has been set for this year, a key milestone that ensures bakeries keep oven busy while households never run short of bread.
Dependence on imports has equally been eliminated and foreign currency to bring in flour saved.
Maize and traditional grains’ output has been equally rising, spurred by the Pfumvudza/Intwasa and the Presidential Inputs schemes, supporting over 3,5 million smallholder farmers.
“As Farmers4ED, we are proud to be part of this journey. We are not only beneficiaries of these programmes, but also active participants and mobilisers.
“Across provinces, Farmers4ED is uniting farmers to play their part in strengthening agricultural value chains, boosting productivity and aligning with national development priorities.
“Comrades, as we prepare for the ZANU PF Annual National People’s Conference in Manicaland, it is our duty to mobilise fully and show that farmers are not just producers, but also defenders of our national vision and loyal cadres of the party and the President,” said Cde Chitate.
