Online Reporter
Theseus Mauruki Shambare
FIVE schools, villages and a rural clinic in Chivi North have received livestock and digital connectivity support under Government empowerment programmes, with authorities saying the interventions are aimed at improving household incomes, nutrition, education and access to information.
The support, delivered through the Presidential Poultry Pass-On Scheme and the Presidential digital connectivity drive, saw schools and communities receiving indigenous chickens while rural institutions were equipped with Starlink satellite internet kits.
Mangwana, Utsinda and Uravhi Primary Schools each received 100 three-month-old indigenous chickens, while Matavire Village and Chitsaka Village also received 100 chicks each.
In addition, Madan’ombe Clinic and Bwanya Primary School received Starlink satellite internet kits to improve access to digital services in the rural communities.
Speaking during the handover, Chivi North Member of Parliament Cde Godfrey Huruva Mukungunugwa said the interventions were transforming rural communities by providing households and institutions with assets that create long-term benefits.
He said the poultry programme would improve nutrition while creating income-generating opportunities for beneficiaries through egg production and flock multiplication.
“The Presidential Poultry Pass-On Scheme has positively impacted rural livelihoods because it gives communities assets that can generate income while also improving nutrition at the household level,” said Cde Mukungunugwa.
He said the pass-on approach would ensure more families benefit as chickens multiply, creating a sustainable empowerment model where beneficiaries support others within their communities.
Agricultural Planning and Development Director Mr Leonard Munamati said the poultry programme complemented other rural development initiatives aimed at strengthening household resilience and promoting self-sufficiency.
He said the success of community-based programmes depended on beneficiaries embracing the responsibility of passing on benefits to others.
The poultry handover comes at a time when Government is expanding livestock-based interventions, including the Presidential Goat Pass-On Scheme, which has seen communities in Chivi North transform small livestock into household assets.
Mr Munamati said such programmes were critical in improving livelihoods, particularly in rural areas where communities require sustainable sources of income and nutrition.
The digital connectivity component is expected to enhance learning and service delivery in rural institutions.
The installation of Starlink satellite internet at Bwanya Primary School is expected to support digital learning by giving learners and teachers access to online educational resources, while connectivity at Madan’ombe Clinic will improve communication and access to health information.
Cde Mukungunugwa said rural development was no longer limited to traditional infrastructure but now included technology that connects communities to wider opportunities.
“Development today includes ensuring that our schools and clinics have access to modern technology because connectivity improves the quality of services offered to our people,” he said.
The interventions are part of Government’s broader Rural Development 8.0 agenda, which seeks to promote inclusive development through agriculture, livestock production, digital access and improved social services as the country moves towards Vision 2030.
Beneficiaries said the programmes would help communities build sustainable livelihoods while reducing dependence on external support.
The Government says the pass-on approach will continue expanding the reach of empowerment initiatives by ensuring that livestock and other productive assets circulate among households, allowing more rural families to benefit over time.
