Vusumuzi Dube
Vusumuzi Dube recently in Binga
WORK on fishing rigs for the four recently installed chiefs in Binga District are at an advanced stage with the contractor saying he is waiting for the delivery of a few components from Kariba, which once received will be ready for use under two weeks.
In April last year, President Mnangagwa donated the 17 Presidential Fishing Rigs to chiefs in Binga, women and youths as part of Government’s empowerment initiative, inspired by the Second Republic’s leaving no one and no place behind philosophy.
President Mnangagwa’s Government is on a drive to uplift rural communities with particular attention being given to Binga which has a history of lagging behind in terms of development.
Sunday News last week visited Binga district and found that works on fishing rigs for the four chiefs that were recently installed and another for the youth were already standing and only waiting for a few components for them to start being used. The four chiefs that were recently installed are; Chief Binga, Chief Siakalenge, Chief Kavula and Chief Sinamagonde.
Binga District Development Coordinator, Mr Kabome Land Sinsole said they were happy with the impact the rigs had brought to date in the local community in terms of empowerment. He said what was more exciting was that the rigs were not only given to chiefs but also women and youths in order to transform and uplift these communities.
“We are extremely excited that work on the construction of rigs for the recently installed chiefs is already in an advanced stage.
“We are confident that in the next few weeks the chiefs and the youths will be taking delivery of these rigs. As the community of Binga we are especially excited on the impact these rigs have had in transforming the lives of the communities that are operating them. We are therefore grateful to the efforts that have been made by President Mnangagwa in transforming the lives of people from Binga,” said Mr Siansole.
Sunday News also managed to interview the local contractor who is working on the four boats, Mr Muchimbwe Chineka who also constructed 14 rigs that were part of the 16 distributed under the Presidential Fishing Rigs Scheme. He said the four rigs that he was working on, were now 80 percent complete serve for a few components that had to be collected in Kariba.
“As you see the rigs are already in the river, now we are just waiting for the engines. These rigs are constructed in such a way that they have a two-engine system, one can be used to power the rig while the other can be used for lighting and other uses.
“In terms of when they will be ready to be handed over, as soon as I take delivery of the few remaining components, I would say at most two weeks they will be ready,” said Mr Chineka.
The contractor further paid tribute to the Government for entrusting the project to a local, noting that this therefore meant that not only the beneficiaries of the rigs benefit but a whole lot more who would be involved in the construction works.
“This goes to show you that the Second Republic lives up to its promises, that is of leaving no one and no place behind, previously it was going to be someone from as far as Harare being given the tender to work on these rigs but they decided on a local to do the job of which I am also employing locals which therefore increases the pool of people benefitting from this project,” said Mr Chineka.
Online Reporter