adminSandra Tekere Sunday News Reporter
NKULUMANE representative in the National Assembly Cde Killian Sibanda has initiated projects in the constituency aimed at uplifting the standards of life for women, children and vulnerable groups. In an interview after touring some of the projects last week, Cde Sibanda said he first facilitated the training of the beneficiaries to ensure that they grasp the business concepts.
Among the projects was a training facility which saw 300 women graduating after completing short courses in jam and sauce making, vegetable drying, soap making and how to manage small businesses. Cde Sibanda said he has also facilitated markets for the beneficiaries which will see the women supplying retail shops such as Choppies.
“We need to take advantage of the Government directive to restrict importation of some of the goods and we need to start producing these products here,” he said. In an interview, some of the beneficiaries said they were ready to produce after gaining the request skills.
“I never knew that I could make jam out of ijodo (melon), after preparing my umxhanxa I used to throw away the ijodo remains and some even rotted as I had no idea what to do with them. From last week onwards I will never throw away ijodo as I have learnt to cook jam using it. We want to thank Cde Sibanda for availing such any opportunity to us,” said Mrs Nonhlanha Ntini.
Apart from women, Cde Sibanda has also facilitated that 500 youths from the constituency enroll at a local vocational centre to acquire skills in hair dressing, till operation and cooking. “Our kids have stopped roaming the streets and these initiatives have seen a marked decrease in youth delinquency,” said another beneficiary Mrs Ellen Moyo.
“Cde Sibanda has opened gates for almost everyone in Nkulumane as he has managed to involve even some of us who are disabled. I can now make tomatoes jam, and I know how to dry vegetables in a way that nutrients are not lost.”
The women said they were ready to increase production and break into the export market.
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