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Prosper Ndlovu recently in Binga
THE United Nations Development Fund (UNDP) has pledged support to the government in the crafting of the 2015 national budget and is already rolling out funding for key projects aimed at enhancing livelihoods and poverty reduction in different districts in the country.Finance and Economic Development Minister Patrick Chinamasa is expected to present the budget in Parliament anytime before the end of the year following the recent conclusion of consultation meetings by parliamentarians and the business community.
UNDP Assistant Resident Representative responsible for Poverty Reduction and HIV Mainstreaming Dr Alex Zinanga told a gathering of small to medium enterprises at Mlibizi in Binga on Friday that his organisation would work with the government in fulfilling development imperatives espoused in Zim-Asset, the country’s development agenda.
“We’re assisting the government of Zimbabwe as they’re developing the 2015 budget,” he said.
“Increased access to sustainable livelihoods is key to the government’s blueprint as articulated in Zim-Asset and UN assistance framework.
“This is very important and relevant to the UN programme on poverty alleviation and achievement of Millenium Development Goals (MDG)s. We remain your very committed partner in development.”
Dr Zinanga, who was accompanied by Small to Medium Enterprises and Corporative Development Minister Sithembiso Nyoni and ministry’s Permanent Secretary Evelyn Ndlovu, handed over a fishing rig worth $16,500 to Kanonge Fishing Corporative and $10,000 to Manjolo business cooperative.
He said the support was part of UNDP’s two year programme of assistance to SMEs.
Dr Zinanga also said the international body was also supporting national peace building and cohesion initiatives in liaison with the Office of the President and Cabinet.
UNDP is working with different partners such as the Civil Protection Unit, public service, housing and SMEs ministries, the culture fund and church leaders.
Two weeks ago, the organisation handed over honey keeping kits, extension services equipment and cheques worth thousands of dollars to villagers in Tsholotsho, Lupane, Umzingwane, Gokwe and Insiza districts.
Dr Zinanga said the programme was aimed at enhancing long term sustainable economic growth towards poverty alleviation.
He said capital assets such as fishing rigs were ideal for rural economies, especially empowering women and the youth to be self- sufficient.
“While women are the majority, they’re still the poorest and intervention towards supporting them is a good way of fighting poverty,” said Dr Zinanga.
Minister Nyoni described the fishing project by Binga communities as the biggest in the whole of Matabeleland Province.
She applauded UNDP for partnering with government in development matters and paid tribute to President Mugabe for creating a ministry for small businesses.
The minister said empowering communities was at the heart of government operations and urged increased support for small businesses.
“Cooperatives are the future of the economy because they have a multiplier effect,” she said.
Kanonge Fishing Cooperative secretary Charles Mukombe said the new fishing rig would enable them achieve kapenta output worth $750 per day.
Area traditional leader Chief Saba thanked the government and UNDP saying for a long time communities near the Zambezi River have been watching foreigners making business through fishing as they did not have equipment.
During the meeting a report was presented on the success of the 200-member Manjolo Savings Credit Cooperative (Sacco), which has made up to $43,000 savings from a revolving seed fund made from initial $2 monthly contributions among members.
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derick.khumalo