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Nqobile Tshili Chronicle Reporter
COMMUNITIES should complement Government efforts in reviving Isiphala seNkosi/Zunde RaMambo scheme to guarantee food security in the country.
Speaking during the launch of the national tillage programme at Ngqoya Business Centre under Chief Magama in Tsholotsho, the Minister of State Responsible for Matabeleland North, Cde Cain Mathema, said it was everyone’s responsibility to ensure that the country had enough food.
He said the revival of Isiphala seNkosi was essential as it catered for vulnerable members of the community.
“Chiefs must look after their people and when the crops are ready they should decide on how best to distribute the food,” he said.
Cde Mathema said villagers should strategise on how to make Isiphala seNkosi viable as it has the potential to reduce unemployment.
“Instead of using the elderly who can barely work in their fields to work under Isiphala seNkosi, communities should try to create jobs for the unemployed youths. Villagers should ensure they produce not only enough for their consumption but even surplus for sale,” he said. During the launch as part of the demonstration, tractors ploughed Chief Magama’s fields.
The District Development Fund (DDF) director of water and maintenance, Mr Edwin Toriro, said the tillage programme was set to benefit every chief in the country.
“We have about 262 chiefs in the country and this programme is set to cover each one of them. The chiefs would then select 10 vulnerable members in their community who will also benefit from the programme,” said Mr Toriro.
He said DDF was tilling 1.5 hectares for every chief.
Mr Toriro said the DDF was also drilling boreholes throughout the country.
“We are going to drill 75 new boreholes and rehabilitate 2 500 old ones in Matabeleland North and some of the boreholes would be drilled near the farms so that communities can start cultivating crops under irrigation,” said Mr Toriro.
In separate interviews Chiefs Magama and Mathuphula commended the Government initiative to revive Isiphala seNkosi, saying it was going to assist the vulnerable people in their communities.
“We have orphans, the disabled and the elderly who cannot do everything by themselves,” said Chief Mathuphula.
Chief Magama said the programme would assist them as it has capacity to create employment.
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