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On a recent wintry and windy Thursday afternoon hundreds of villagers, among them headmen and councillors from Mangwe District’s 17 wards gathered at Tshitshi Business Centre, Matabeleland South for the launch of Isiphala Senkosi/Zunde Ramambo scheme. The event was held concurrently with the launch of the Presidential Well-wishers Agricultural Inputs scheme for the 2013-14 farming season.
The occasion was marked by happiness, an apparent testament of how the people welcomed both programmes. Hundreds of joyous villagers, singing and ululating, many clad in their green and yellow Zanu-PF regalia and extolling President Mugabe and the Government’s benevolence, gave colour to the event.
“We are more than happy,” said Chief Tshitshi.
“We appreciate and praise President Mugabe and the Government for reviving of the Isiphala Senkosi scheme. This will go a long way in assisting the elderly, widows and orphans without any means of survival.”
The Government is reviving the Isiphala Senkosi initiative which had lacked public support during the time of the inclusive Government. It is a traditional social security scheme under which chiefs coordinated the growing of crops on designated plots, with the harvest being used to feed under-privileged groups in the chiefdoms. In some cases, communities don’t necessarily work in communal fields, but in their own plots and from their harvest; contribute a bucket of maize or sorghum to the common granary whose custodian is the chief.
Beneficiaries include the poor, elderly, disabled, orphans and those who face food shortage for one reason or another. Customarily, it was the community which provided inputs but the Government had for many years until, 2008, assumed that responsibility.
The Minister of State for Provincial Affairs for Matabeleland South, Cde Abedinico Ncube said the revival of the ancient programme would go a long way in fighting poverty and help the needy people in the province.
“The re-introduction of this scheme will help the province fight hunger and would ensure that the less-privileged people, usually affected by the recurrent droughts and erratic rains would benefit through the scheme,” said Cde Ncube.
Ward Four councillor in Mangwe, Mrs Sindisiwe Sibanda, urged the Government to consolidate the benefits from Isiphala Senkosi by reviving derelict irrigation schemes in the province.
“This a good decision made by the Government, though we need more support. The Government should support the scheme through the revival of irrigation schemes that are lying idle in the district to maximise enough benefits from the scheme and help to reduce poverty,” said Clr Sibanda.
Other chiefs across the country welcomed the re-introduction of the social safety initiative.
Chief Shana of Hwange in Matabeleland North expressed hope that the country receives good rains to ensure the Isiphala Senkosi succeeds.
“We welcome the decision by the Government to revive the Isiphala Senkosi/Zunde Ramambo scheme. It came at the right time when some parts of the country’s dry regions are experiencing recurrent droughts. However, we pray and hope that there is going to be good rains, so that the communities can have a good harvest to feed their families and have a surplus. The scheme can bear fruits if we receive good rains,” said Chief Shana.
Chief David Malaba of Matobo in Matabeleland South Province said Isiphala Senkosi would alleviate drought-induced poverty and urged Government to support the scheme with enough inputs.
“It is a very relevant scheme to most of our communities stalked by hunger due to recurrent droughts experienced especially in the province. The little that can be stored in the chiefs’ granary is very important in assisting the needy families like orphans, who do not have any means of survival in times of drought. This was long overdue. What is needed to make this scheme a success is support from the Government especially with agriculture inputs and adequate land to practise the scheme,” he said.
The Government is supporting the project not only by providing free seed, but also availing expertise and information to farmers through its Agritex officers countrywide.
A senior Agritex officer in Matabeleland North, Mr Dumisani Nyoni said:
“As Agritex officers and agronomists, we support and monitor the progress of the Zunde Ramambo/Isiphala Senkosi schemes through the training of farmers and giving advice and information on what to grow, type of seeds, and time to grow their food crops.”
The Government, through the District Development Fund (DDF), provides free tillage services to the community fields as well.
“Since most of the communities have lost their draught power through recurrent droughts, we complement the Isiphala Senkosi scheme through the provision of tractors for free tillage. As of now we have provided five tractors to complement and assist the revived scheme to improve production,” said DDF provincial coordinator for Matabeleland South, Mr Douglas Dube.
Mr Misheck Moyo (73), of Tshitshi Village said he is too old to work in the field so is looking forward to getting assistance from the community granary.
“Mntanami sengigugile. I am too old to work in the field, I hope under the scheme, we can get support as elderly people,” said Mr Moyo.
Online Reporter