Online Reporter
Raymond Jaravaza, Sunday News Reporter
CONGREGANTS of the Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Church in Zimbabwe have been urged to take full advantage of the Government’s economic transformative initiatives, including youth access to land, to contribute meaningfully to the national economy and boost food production.
The appeal was made during the church’s annual camp meeting in Nyamandlovu, Matabeleland North Province, which brought together thousands of congregants for a seven-day spiritual retreat. The camp meetings, held across the country, ended yesterday.
The Nyamandlovu gathering falls under the Zimbabwe West Union Conference, one of three Unions in the country overseeing six other conferences, each with roughly 100 000 members.
Addressing the congregants during a business session, SDA member and cattle breeder Mr Jairos Mahlangu, highlighted the opportunities Government policies have created for young people to access land and start farming projects.
“Young people still have age on their side, they have technology and fresh ideas at their disposal, to venture into farming, be it poultry, cattle breeding or growing maize, cabbage and butternut, among other crops,” he said.
“The Government has made access to land for the youth easier and my message to all the young congregants of the SDA church is to take advantage of such policies that are being spearheaded by our leaders to get land and start producing food.”
Mr Mahlangu’s advice aligns with several Government youth empowerment initiatives aimed at building capacity and providing inputs for young farmers to increase food production and generate income.
The Government has called on youths to make the most of their 20 percent land quota and join the agriculture value chain, as the country moves to reinvigorate the agriculture sector by taking on board young blood to replace the ageing farmer population.
Mr Mahlangu encouraged starting small and growing gradually, sharing his own story of how a modest maize harvest earned him his first cow, which laid the foundation for his cattle herd.
“We are blessed that our Government prioritises youth in land allocation. It’s up to them to use this land to change their lives and help our country maintain its status as the food basket of Africa,” he said.
Local businessman Mr Xolani Dube, urged SDA members to actively participate in Government-led economic programmes, such as the recent Land Tenure Implementation programme, to enhance their involvement in agriculture and food security.
“We are members of the SDA and we are citizens of the great country, who must not feel left out in economic empowerment programmes that benefit the citizens of Zimbabwe.
Taking advantage of Government programmes such as the recently launched Land Tenure Implementation programme means that as SDA members we can also actively take part in the agricultural sector and help the country to be food secure,” he said.
The camp meeting also featured a community outreach programme with a surprise gift. Hlangu Ranch donated a dairy heifer, which was won by Mrs Siphathiwe Magama.
Overwhelmed with gratitude, she pledged to nurture the heifer to improve her livelihood and support her family.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for me to improve my livelihood and take care of my family.
This is a blessing from God and thank you, Hlangu Ranch, for making this possible,” she said.
Hlangu Ranch founder Mr Mahlangu, said the donation was meant to encourage productive use of Government-allocated land.
“We believe in empowering our communities. The Government is allocating land to citizens, and we encourage everyone to use it productively.
This heifer is just the starting point and we hope it multiplies and brings prosperity to Mrs Magama and her family,” he said.
