Vusumuzi Dube
Judith Phiri, Business Reporter
HWANGE Local Board (HLB) Ward One Councillor, George Mpala is calling for income-generating projects in a bid to reduce the rampant crime rate in his community.
Clr Mpala who is a firm believer in the popular proverb, “An idle mind is the devil’s workshop”, reckons that most criminal activities in his ward culminate from the existence of hordes of unemployed youths.
In the recent HLB newsletter, he said there was a need to embark on projects that uplift the lives of people.
“We have realised that the rise in crime in our ward, especially housebreaking and theft from motor vehicle cases is largely caused by the high number of unemployed youths.
“They are also involved in other delinquencies such as drugs and substance abuse. One way of arresting these vices is making sure we come up with income-generating projects for them,” he said.
Clr Mpala said although numerous coal mining companies have over the past few years been starting operations in Hwange District, including power generation utilities, a substantial number of the urban populace is still unemployed, especially youths.
He said the income-generating projects could also empower women in the community.
“I have already seconded a motion for the setting up of an income-generating project in my ward to council. The Acting Director of Spatial Planning and Land Management has also identified a potential area for such a project.”
Clr Mpala said through interactions with residents in his Ward, it was suggested that the income generation project should be in the form of an integrated farming enterprise.
An integrated farming system is a sustainable agricultural system that integrates livestock, crop production, fish, poultry, tree crops, plantation crops and other systems that benefit each other. It is based on the concept that “there is no waste” and “waste”.
He said the project that came to their minds was poultry, the keeping of both broiler chickens and layers as well as rabbits.
“The other piece of land will be set aside for horticultural production for the growing of various vegetables. The droppings obtained from the small livestock section will be utilised as manure for the crops section while at the same time, part of the produce obtained from the latter will be used as feed for the livestock section,” he added.
Clr Mpala said since Zesa Holdings owned most of the properties in his area of jurisdiction, he will consider approaching the entity to fund the construction of infrastructure to house the small livestock as well as drilling of a borehole, as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
He said income-generating activities provide additional benefits that reduce poverty, improve the well-being of communities and promote empowerment, self-reliance and community development.
Clr Mpala said: “Through the motto I coined “One Vision; One Ward One; One Voice” l am determined to see sustainable development in the ward and Hwange urban as a whole.”
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