Online Reporter
Patrick Chitumba, [email protected]
THE Zibagwe Rural District Council (RDC) has injected over US$50 000 into poultry and piggery projects at schools and women’s groups across the district, in a move aimed at boosting livelihoods and advancing the national Vision 2030 agenda of “leaving no one and no place behind.”
In an interview, Kwekwe District Development Co-ordinator, Mr Fortune Mpungu, said the projects are being implemented in partnership with local non-governmental organisation Gender Links, with technical support from Government departments including Veterinary Services and the Agricultural and Rural Development Advisory Services (Ardas).
“On the poultry project, we have erected five sheds costing US$23 000 at Bonnacord Primary School in Ward 3, Wozoli Primary in Ward 22, Umelusi Secondary in Ward 23, Langton Primary in Ward 24 and Bembezani Primary in Ward 30, “ he said.
Mr Mpungu said Gender Links procured 10 battery cages, 1 000 point-of-lay chickens (200 for each site), and 110 bags of poultry feed.
“It is important to note that the chickens have started laying eggs and the entrepreneurs are selling the eggs at a price of US$4 a crate,” he said.
Mr Mpungu said the piggery project was also set up in Ward 32 at Donjani Secondary school.
“The construction of a pigsty was done at a cost of US$28 000 and 22 pigs were procured two boars and 20 sows and also 180 bags of feed and medicines.”
Mr Mpungu said the pig project is also doing well with the waste feeding into the biogas project.
“The waste we are getting from the pigs and poultry is being used to feed the biogases. We have 47 biogases around the district and the construction of each biogas amounted to US$4 000,” he said.
“The community will be able to sell the gas, benefitting the business community and the schools in the district. The proceeds from the gas sales will benefit the community as well.”
Mr Mpungu described the initiative as a game-changer, especially for vulnerable groups such as the elderly, widows, orphans and people living with disabilities.
“These projects are already bearing fruit. As we speak, eggs are being sold, and the benefits are reaching disadvantaged members of our communities,” he said.
Mr Mpungu highlighted that the projects are being implemented under a whole-of-Government and whole-of-society approach, bringing together departments such as Veterinary Services, Ardas, Women’s Affairs and the Youth Ministry.
“These departments are working hand in hand with co-operatives formed by local communities to ensure proper management and sustainability of the projects,” he said.
He added that Government is proud of Zibagwe RDC for spearheading what he described as a massive local economic development programme.
“We are grateful to the RDC and Gender Links for supporting initiatives that are directly transforming the lives of our communities,” he said.
