malvernmugadzikwa
Nokutenda Tobve
VILLAGE BUSINESS UNITS (VBUs) are beginning to have a transformative impact on rural incomes as some of them are reportedly earning up to US$3 000 per month.
This comes as over 3 000 boreholes have been drilled under the Presidential Borehole Scheme, while over 260 VBUs, including those in schools, have been established countrywide.
Under the VBUs, villages are empowered with a solar-powered borehole, drip irrigation system and water to embark on horticulture and aquaculture. Members receive monthly dividends from the VBUs, which operate as fully registered companies.
The Government plans to establish a VBU in each of the country’s 35 000 villages to provide opportunities for economic empowerment and improved livelihoods.
Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) corporate communications manager Mrs Marjorie Munyonga told The Sunday Mail that VBUs have proven to be immensely transformative in rural areas.
“Since the launch of the Presidential Rural Development Programme in 2021, some beneficiaries at village business units have been getting up to US$50 per month and, in some cases, up to US$3 000 in dividends,” she said.
Zinwa is presently implementing the programme in partnership with the Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (Arda), AFC Bank and the Agricultural Marketing Authority (AMA).
“Zinwa is responsible for infrastructure development for the business units, which include a solar-powered borehole, water storage tanks, a drip technology horticulture garden, fishponds and a communal water point, with Arda being responsible for the registration of the business units as formal companies. Arda also assists with the management of the business units where beneficiaries are both shareholders and employees.”
AMA, Mrs Munyonga said, has helped the VBUs get ready buyers for their produce.
“AMA secures markets for the business units, which helps determine the type of crops they can grow, while AFC provides funding,” she said.
Over 3 000 boreholes have been drilled so far.
“Zinwa has so far drilled 3 063 boreholes under the Presidential Rural Development Programme. These boreholes form the anchor component for the establishment of village, school and youth business units,” Mrs Munyonga added.
“In addition to these boreholes, Zinwa shall also be drilling and equipping a borehole at each of Zimbabwe’s 9 600 schools and 4 500 boreholes for youth centres countrywide.”
As of September 3, 196 VBUs, 49 school business units and 20 youth business units had been established.
Manicaland has 45 VBUs, Mashonaland West 14, Mashonaland East 22, Midlands 40, Matabeleland South six, Masvingo 16, Bulawayo one, Matabeleland North nine and Mashonaland Central 43, while Harare has none.
In a recent interview, the project manager of the Zunde VBU in Ward 28, Mt Darwin, Mr Talent Kamoto, said the project is sustaining 60 households, with members benefitting from a one-hectare irrigated garden that produces horticultural crops, including cabbages and tomatoes.
Online Reporter