adminAuxilia Katongomara Chronicle Reporter
VICE President Phelekezela Mphoko yesterday unveiled a poultry project for the Nketa-Emganwini constituency in Bulawayo by donating 3,000 chicks as part of government’s empowerment drive. The project, a brain child of VP Mphoko, is anchored on the country’s economic blueprint, Zim-Asset, which seeks to empower people through utilising local resources.
More than 300 families in Nketa-Emganwini constituency’s ward 24 will benefit from the project. VP Mphoko said the poultry project was set to benefit 3,000 families in three wards. Unveiling the project in Area Five of Nketa 9 suburb, the VP said it was his wish to see people partaking in self-sustaining projects.
“I’m giving you these chicks free of charge, I’m not selling them to you. We need to assist each other where we can. I will assist whenever I can and you also should assist me. Izandla ziyagezana. But I’m giving them on one condition that you’ll keep them and sell them thereafter.
‘‘After you get money don’t bring it to me, it’s yours to sustain yourselves,” he said. VP Mphoko challenged the beneficiaries of the project to yield results in line with the country’s empowerment drive.
“What’s bad is that when I come back here, I’m told that the chicks you donated all died. This project is yours let’s see it through. To the others who are yet to receive their batch lets support this group by buying their chickens as well,” he said.
VP Mphoko donated the chicks worth $3,000 to 10 groups from Ward 24.
He said the remaining groups, Ward 25 and 26 will receive their birds in a fortnight. A total of 331 groups with 10 members each are set to benefit from the poultry rearing business. Nketa and Emganwini residents expressed gratitude to VP Mphoko for initiating the poultry project.
“We’re happy with the project. At first we thought this was just politicking but we’re impressed that VP Mphoko is a man of his word,” said Senzeni Moyo. Another resident said the donation had come at an opportune time when they were struggling to make ends meet.
The event was attended by War Veterans Elder Cde George Mlala, Zanu-PF Bulawayo provincial chairman, Cde Dennis Ndlovu, central committee members, Cdes Anna Moyo, Eppie Dube and Alice Dube.
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