Online Reporter
Lovemore Kadzura
Post Reporter
THE ruling ZANU PF party has launched a massive roadrunner chicken project across the country, aiming at building a large stock of indigenous chickens for the export market and economically empower women at grassroots levels.
The initiative, spearheaded by the ZANU PF Women’s League, saw 10 000 indigenous chicks being handed over to women in Manicaland on Wednesday, kick-starting life-changing projects.
Last year, selected women in the province participated in poultry, goat rearing, market gardening, piggery, and sewing projects and registered resounding success. Speaking at the handover ceremony, ZANU PF national secretary for Women’s Affairs in the Politburo, Cde Mabel Chinomona said the party is accelerating efforts to capacitate women to run businesses and contribute to national development.
“We want Zimbabwe to be flooded with indigenous chickens. After that we will approach President Mnangagwa to liaise with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade to facilitate export.
“There is high demand for roadrunner chickens on the international market. From roadrunners, we are going to introduce broilers for our women to rear. We want our supermarkets to stock chickens supplied by women from the ruling party and from Young Women for Economic Development. We are no longer tolerant of lazy women, and the era of giving out cash is over. The thrust these days is economic empowerment through viable projects. We want our women to start companies.
“Take these projects seriously and improve your economic well-being.
Goat rearing and indigenous chickens are not complicated businesses, as they require less supplementary feed. We are pleased that women in Manicaland are excelling in empowerment projects spearheaded by the party. This is what we want – when we avail projects – we encourage other women to learn from them,” she said.
Cde Mabel Chinomona, who is also the president of the Senate, called upon women in the party to have unity of purpose and work towards the success of the empowerment projects to uplift one another.
“I want all the women in Manicaland Province to remain united. In the past, there were some squabbles in the province, but today I am happy to see a united province. Discord and mudslinging are not welcome in the party. Manicaland is hosting the People’s Conference, and we encourage women in the province to be united as you host delegates,” said Cde Chinomona.
Makoni West Member of the House of Assembly, Dr Jenfan Muswere, who is also Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, expressed appreciation for the projects being implemented by the party for women in Manicaland.
“Women in Manicaland have fully embraced economic empowerment initiatives aligned with the Vision 2030 agenda. We can only achieve this vision if all citizens are economically active,” said Dr Muswere.
Dr Muswere also said Government is working around the clock to complete Chiwetu Vocational Training Centre, which will include a drug rehabilitation section, to equip youths and women with entrepreneurial knowledge and skills.
He said the centre will soon equip youths and women with vital skills such as motor mechanics, carpentry, welding, and garment making.
Dr Muswere is also rolling out projects such as piggery, chicken and goat rearing, and others in the constituency, turning it into one of the most economically empowered and developed in Makoni District, given the good state of the roads, the drilling of boreholes in villages, schools, and health centres, as well as the establishment of Village Business Units (VBUs).
National chairperson for Young Women for Economic Development, Cde Tatenda Mavetera, who is also Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services Minister, praised Government’s efforts to open opportunities for women in business and political leadership.
“We appreciate President Mnangagwa for creating avenues for young women to assume senior leadership roles. Many young women have been groomed by the Women’s League and are now serving as legislators and ministers,” said Cde Mavetera, before donating 50 goats to women in Makoni West to kick-start a goat-rearing project.
The Women’s League also recognised successful women in projects such as poultry, market gardening, and sewing, and presented them with tools of production like scotch carts, wheelbarrows, cultivators, and ploughs to help enhance their operations.
The event was attended by other dignitaries, including Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Advocate Misheck Mugadza, ZANU PF provincial chairman, Cde Tawanda Mukodza, provincial chairlady, Cde Dorothy Mabika, and other ZANU PF District Coordinating Committee (DCC) officials and traditional leaders.
