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Tinashe Makichi Business Reporter
Mount Darwin based Chaminuka Vocational Training College is set to receive a major facelift under the British American Tobacco Zimbabwe’s tobacco empowerment trust of $527 000 grant.
Government and BAT last week signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at enhancing tobacco production in the country. The Tobacco Empowerment Trust fund is a revolving loan facility meant to provide the youths with access to credit in support of their entrepreneurial and employment creation initiatives.
Through the MoU, the Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Ministry received $527 000 from BAT for the provision of technical, financial and infrastructural support to Chaminuka Vocational Training Centre in Mashonaland Central.
BAT head of corporate and regulatory affairs Mrs Shingai Koti during the tour of the college yesterday, said a lot of work will be done towards upgrading facilities to advance student expertise through training.
“The funding under the BAT tobacco empowerment trust is a three tiered programme that will be spread over three years.
“We are going to see the development of irrigation systems, construction of an ICT library among other issues,” said Mrs Koti.
Some of the money will go towards development of tobacco barns and purchasing of new furniture.
Chaminuka Technical College principal Mr Alois Musariri said the signing of the MoU will have a significant impact on uplifting academic standards.
He said Government’s Productive Sector Investment Facility has already set up an electricity transmission line for the college for $17 000
“We are running 14 academic programmes at the moment and through this partnership with BAT, we will be running 15 programmes.
The BAT tobacco empowerment trust will be officially done on November 27 this year.
“We are going to improve our training levels and the college is going to employ locals and youths from the surrounding areas. We will construct five rocket barns under the guidance of the Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board.
“The old barn structures will be converted into storage and grading shades”, said Mr Musariri.
Several people surrounding the college are expected to benefit from this programme.
He said four hostels are set for a massive rehabilitation to improve the welfare of the students.
Mr Musariri said current enrolment is about 500 students but this tobacco empowerment will add another 300 students at a rate of 150 students per year.
The college has 14 classroom blocks and six workshops.
A new boy’s hostel will be constructed under Government’s PSIP.
Online Reporter