‘Village heads must push for development’

Johnsias Mutonhori, Midlands Correspondent

FORMER Norton National Assembly member Mr Temba Mliswa has said village heads should play a crucial role in driving rural development and transforming the livelihoods of rural communities.

Speaking on the side lines of his installation ceremony as a village head in Shurugwi, Mr Mliswa said village heads were supposed to develop a development mindset. Mr Mliswa, who took over from Maria Dube who resigned due to ill health said he was going to serve the village and initiate development that will see the village being as a model of rural development.

“Village heads should possess a developmental mindset. That position should not be merely ceremonial but rather instrumental in addressing critical issues,” Mr Mliswa stated.

He said his immediate focus was to establish a village development committee that would be tasked with the work of transforming the village into a greenbelt. He said he has already drilled 10 boreholes to provide water to approximately 50 households in his village. He has also constructed a house for an agronomist who will empower communal farmers with technical training and capacity-building, aimed at cultivating a business-oriented approach to farming in rural areas.

“The most significant challenge facing communal agriculture is the lack of water and in response to that, I have already drilled 10 boreholes for drip irrigation. Each borehole will supply one hectare of land, and shortly, we will start planting butternut, tomatoes, and cabbages,” Mr Mliswa explained.

Mr Mliswa said he was going to collaborate with the Government for the betterment of communities.

“I have held various key positions within Zanu-PF, including being a Zanu-PF leader in the UK, member of the Central Committee, provincial chairmanship, and DCC chairmanship. I also have also served as a Member of Parliament for Hurungwe and Norton where I was an independent candidate. However, I have moved on from that phase of my life. I believe being a village head is the assignment that God has prepared for me and I am going to support the Government and the vision of President Mnangagwa,” he said.

Chief Mapanzure who was the guest of honour during the installation ceremony, praised Mr Mliswa’s vision for development.