Online Reporter
Rutendo Nyeve, [email protected]
THE Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion, Professor Mthuli Ncube, on Saturday commissioned a Village Business Unit (VBU) at Mhlasi Village in Matobo North, a development initiative that is already making a measurable impact on the lives of 45 community members.
The VBU, which consists of a solar-powered borehole and a nutrition garden, was implemented by the Securities and Exchange Commission of Zimbabwe (SECZim) in partnership with Arctic Blue Asset Management, as part of broader efforts to strengthen rural livelihoods and improve access to water and food security.
Also in attendance at the commissioning ceremony was the Minister of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Edgar Moyo, who is the Member of Parliament for Matobo.
Addressing the gathering, Professor Ncube said the project would ease the burden on villagers who had previously spent long hours and travelled significant distances to access water.
“Girls will no longer have their education disrupted. Families will now be able to establish nutrition gardens and keep livestock thereby improving both health and household incomes.
“The people of Matobo are a people of resilience and an enduring sense of dignity, and it is that dignity which we honour today with a most practical and life-changing gift,” said Prof Ncube.
The nutrition garden is expected to benefit approximately 432 households and is supplied with water from a borehole fitted with a solar-powered pumping system, ensuring reliability and sustainability.
Prof Ncube also applauded the cooperation between the regulator and regulated entities, noting that such partnerships play a critical role in building confidence and strengthening the country’s markets.
“The collaboration between the regulator and regulated entities in building our nation builds trust and strengthens our markets. You have demonstrated that the capital markets of Zimbabwe are not just about financial returns – they are about human returns as well,” he said.
SECZim board chairman Professor Mabutho Sibanda, who delivered remarks on behalf of the Commission, said the project demonstrated the institution’s commitment to providing tangible support that enables meaningful development.
“We cannot speak of progress while ignoring such important needs. The Drought Mitigation – Community Boreholes Project reflects SECZim’s commitment to reaching communities not only with financial knowledge but also with practical support for the conditions that make development possible,” said Prof Sibanda.
He explained that the project utilises solar panels to power submersible pumps and includes a 10 000-litre water storage tank to ensure consistent supply.
“We believe this initiative will provide clean water to the community, significantly reducing long walking distances to fetch water. The aim is to improve livelihoods, strengthen communities, support climate adaptation, and mitigate human-wildlife conflict,” he said.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Dorcas Ngwenya, expressed her appreciation for the project, noting that the VBU directly benefits 45 community members.
“We have 45 direct beneficiaries made up of 26 women and 19 men. We also have 11 youths and seven pensioners. This VBU will empower us and has created a source of livelihood for our community. We no longer have to walk long distances for water, and we can now grow vegetables even in this dry region,” she said.
The borehole marks the first phase of SECZim’s Corporate Social Responsibility programme, which aims to drill ten boreholes across all provinces, with priority given to the most vulnerable communities.
