NEW: 74 business units for Gokwe ahead of Independence Day celebrations

Violet Chenyika

SEVENTY-FOUR village business units, a vocational training centre and school business units are expected to be completed in Gokwe in time for the country’s 45th Independence Day celebrations.

The projects are part of the Presidential Rural Development Programme, which is aimed at transforming rural livelihoods through infrastructure development and accelerated industrialisation.

Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) head of corporate communications and marketing Mrs Marjorie Munyonga said the projects mark significant progress in rural transformation.

She said 28 of the 74 business units have already been completed, with the remaining 46 currently under development.

“This development will also leave at least 7 400 households having access to clean and safe water as the business units come with communal water points,” she said.

“To date, 28 business units have since been completed, while work on the remaining 46 is in progress.”

Zinwa is the lead implementing agency for the Presidential Rural Development Programme, working in collaboration with the Agricultural and Rural Development Authority, the Agricultural Marketing Authority (AMA) and AFC Bank.

Zinwa is primarily responsible for infrastructure development.

Since the programme’s launch in 2021, Mrs Munyonga said, over 400 business units — spanning villages, schools and youth centres — have been successfully established across the country.

This has brought access to clean and safe drinking water to more than 100 000 households.

In Gokwe, some of the educational and health institutions that have benefitted include Nyamuroro Secondary School, Nyamuroro Primary School, Nyamuroro Vocational Training Centre, Tafara Primary School, Dukaupfu Secondary, Tongogara Primary School, Gura Primary School, Nembudzia Government High School, Chaminuka Primary School, Rugare Primary School, Nyamuponda Primary School, Mhumha Secondary School, Buno Primary School, Kuedza Primary School and Rubatsiro Clinic.

Villages with business units at advanced stages of development include Nyika 2, Mabika, Murota, Tafirei, Chiwa, Dambamazura, Hwadze 9A, Mudavanhu, Masutu, Chimera, Madongwe and Mukomboni.

According to Mrs Munyonga, some communities have begun to realise tangible financial benefits from the programme, with earnings reaching up to US$3 000 in dividends, as well as individual monthly payouts of up to US$50 per month.

The Presidential Rural Development Programme aims to establish business units in 35 000 villages, 9 600 schools and 4 500 vocational training centres countrywide.