Online Reporter
Patrick Chitumba, Midlands Bureau Chief
A NEWLY launched Matikiti Village Business Unit (VBU) is now operational, bringing hope to 50 families in Gokwe North District in the Midlands Province who have embarked on horticultural projects.
The Presidential Rural Development Programme (PRDP) continues to drive significant transformations in villages, schools and vocational training centres across the district and the country.
Last Wednesday, Midlands Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister, Owen Ncube, commissioned the Matikiti VBU which is one of 98 such projects launched in Gokwe North as part of the rural development initiative.
The initiative, part of the PRDP, aims to improve rural livelihoods through infrastructure development and accelerated industrialisation, marking notable progress in rural transformation.
The Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa), is the lead implementing agency, working in conjunction with the Agricultural and Rural Development Authority, the Agricultural Marketing Authority and AFC Bank.
Since the programme was launched in 2021, over 400 business units in villages, at 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, Nembudziya Government High School, Chaminuka Primary School, Rugare Primary School, Nyamuponda Primary School, Mhumha Secondary School, Buno Primary School, Kuedza Primary School and Rubatsiro Clinic.
Some communities have started 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 PRDP seeks to establish business units in 35 000 villages, 9 600 schools and 4 500 vocational training centres countrywide.
Addressing villagers, stakeholders and Government officials during the commissioning of Matikiti VBU, Minister Ncube said the Second Republic has been pushing for rural development in line with Vision 2030.
“The Matikiti Village Business Unit and 98 others in Gokwe North, were established in support of the Second Republic’s rural industrialisation and infrastructure development agenda in an endeavor to improve sanitation, access to clean water for both domestic and irrigation,” he said.
Minister Ncube said Matikiti VBU supports 50 families with water for livestock, horticulture and domestic use thereby mitigating the negative effects of climate change.
“Guided by the revolutionary mantra of “leaving no one and no place behind,” the Second Republic, under the astute, able and visionary stewardship of President Mnangagwa, is seized with inclusive and broad-based empowerment of previously marginalised rural communities through the provision of climate-smart technologies and infrastructure development,” he said.
Minister Ncube highlighted some of the infrastructure development programmes which include borehole drilling targeting 35 000 villages countrywide, resuscitation of irrigation schemes such as Mtange in Gokwe South, Biri in Mberengwa, Holy Cross in Chirumhanzu as well as mechanisation of irrigation schemes and the Pfumvudza/Intwasa programme.
He said under the Second Republic the nation has also witnessed developmental projects such as the provision of piped water schemes like Mabasa-Marira in Zvishavane and Impali in Vungu, the establishment of horticulture crop storage facilities that include Insukamini and Peakhouse in Shurugwi.
Minister Ncube said the storage facilities were supporting over 600 smallholder horticulture farmers.
He said President Mnangagwa recently commissioned state-of-the-art GMB silos in Kwekwe with a capacity to store 56 000 tonnes of grain.
“Similar silos will be built here in Gokwe, which is commendable. I wish to express my profound appreciation for the mother of the nation, the First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa, for supporting community empowerment through the Agric-4-She, She-Tech and ZOU Skills Development Programme that complement the Second Republic’s rural industrialisation,” he said.
Minister Ncube said the attainment of a prosperous and empowered upper middle-income society earlier than 2030 is achievable.
“I urge community leaders and farmers to fully embrace and safeguard the transformative infrastructure being built by the Second Republic,” he said.
A beneficiary, Mr Admire Marimbe said they were happy with the establishment of the VBU.
“We are very happy for this development. We are now occupied throughout the year through this garden. We look forward to feeding our families from the farm produce,” he said.
