adminThe Herald, June 27, 1984
DESPITE the devastating effects of three years of drought, concerted efforts are being made by the Government to increase the output of trained agricultural manpower, President Banana said yesterday.
Speaking at the opening of Parliament, he said 347 students would graduate in July, an increase of 50 percent over last year’s output. The resettlement exercise would continue and the land use planning programme in communal areas, where increased crop and livestock production had the greatest potential to ensure adequate food supplies in future, would be pursued.
Large-scale operations to eradicate tsetse fly which will start in the west of the country, will be carried out in liaison with Zambia, Malawi and Mozambique this year. Cde Banana said it was hoped the AFC would provide $44 million in credit to 65 000 communal farmers by the end of 1985.
Streamlining of energy supply organisations to ensure reliability and security of energy supplies to all sectors would be the main thrust in the energy sector.
A programme of dam construction to ensure agricultural and industrial development would be implemented in the next six years.
The programme this year, said the President, included the construction of Mangwe Dam to provide water for Plumtree, Rufaro Dam for Marondera, and Mazvikadei Dam to provide water for irrigation in the Mukwadzi and Hunyani river valleys. The dam construction programme would cost more than $500 million.
Piped water supplies would continue to be provided for growth points and district service centres. The country had received and would continue to receive assistance from donors to speed up water supplies to the people.
Online Reporter