Online Reporter
Patrick Chitumba, Midlands Bureau
THE recent launch of the Senkwasi Village Business Unit (VBU) and a solar-powered dip tank in Zhombe, marks a significant boost to livelihoods transformation, aligning with the Second Republic’s rural industrialisation drive and Vision 2030.
The VBU model is designed to create income-generating opportunities for local communities, while the solar-powered dip tank will help curb January disease, which has severely affected livestock in the area.
This initiative is in line with the Government’s Rural Development 8.0 model, which promotes industrialisation and value chain integration in rural areas.
Additionally, the dip tank supports the Livestock Recovery and Growth Plan, an essential pillar of Zimbabwe’s agriculture-based economy, ultimately benefitting rural communities.
The two projects were commissioned last weekend by the Minister of State for Midlands Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Owen Ncube, during a ceremony attended by Zanu-PF Politburo member Engineer Daniel McKenzie Ncube, traditional leaders, Government officials and beneficiaries from Ward 9, Senkwasi area.
In his address, Minister Ncube said the Senkwasi Dip Tank and Community Garden in Ward 9, Zhombe, were established in support of the Second Republic’s Rural Development 8.0 model, particularly the Livestock Recovery and Growth Plan, which seeks to strengthen animal disease surveillance and control systems.
He noted that the dip tank had been constructed at a time when reports of January disease had already emerged from Shurugwi, Mberengwa and Kwekwe as well as at three dip tanks in Zhombe.
“These projects resonate with President Mnangagwa’s vision of transforming rural livelihoods by protecting livestock from diseases and providing reliable access to water for irrigation and domestic use for 171 households,” he said.
“This is underpinned by the mantra nyika inovakwa nevene vayo, as evidenced by the commendable support from Eng Daniel McKenzie Ncube, Zhombe legislator Honourable Edmore Samambwa, and the community who mobilised resources towards these initiatives.”
Minister Ncube said the Senkwasi Solarised Borehole underscores the New Dispensation’s inclusive modernisation agenda, which seeks to bridge the rural-urban divide by extending piped water and electricity access to rural areas, once a privilege of urban centres.
“Furthermore, President Mnangagwa is committed to inclusive and broad-based empowerment of previously marginalised rural communities through the provision of climate-smart technologies and infrastructure development,” he said.
“This includes the drilling of boreholes targeting 35,000 villages countrywide and the resuscitation of irrigation schemes such as Mtange in Gokwe South, Biri in Mberengwa, Holy-Cross in Chirumhanzu, as well as piped water schemes like Mabasa-Marira in Zvishavane and Chisadza in Vungu, among others.”
Minister Ncube urged community leaders and farmers to embrace and safeguard the transformative infrastructure provided by the Second Republic under President Mnangagwa’s leadership.
Cde Samambwa praised the community for its proactive role and emphasised the critical importance of the new infrastructure in improving rural livelihoods.
“This marks a new era for our community. The dip tank, which was initiated by the villagers, is a huge milestone,” he said.
“I must mention that one of our villagers recently passed away from high blood pressure after losing 37 cattle to January disease. This intervention could not have come at a better time.”
Engineer McKenzie Ncube also commended the Zhombe community for aligning itself with the national development vision.
“I am very proud of the people of Zhombe. You have upheld the President’s mantra ‘nyika inovakwa nevene vayo’. It is through your dedication and unity that we are celebrating these achievements today,” he said.
Eng McKenzie Ncube added that Vision 2030, spearheaded by the Second Republic, is attainable if people work collectively from the grassroots level on socio-economic development projects.
“The Second Republic under President Mnangagwa is working towards attaining an upper middle-income economy by 2030 through various initiatives,” he said.
“In that regard, we must each play our part from the village level by maintaining this infrastructure and growing the VBU.” Headman Sikhanya expressed heartfelt gratitude for the life-changing infrastructure developments.
“Things were difficult in this area. We used to travel long distances to access dipping services. Now that we have this dip tank here, the difference it makes is beyond words,” he said.
Mrs Melita Ncube, a young mother and beneficiary of the VBU’s nutritional garden, said she hoped to improve her family’s welfare by growing and selling fresh produce.
“I’m very grateful because we now have running water for the garden. Through this initiative, we are growing cash crops and can now support our children’s education,” she said.
