Bunjiwe Mkwananzi
Theseus Mauruki Shambare
ZIMBABWE is set to institutionalise the annual commemoration of World Rural Development Day, with the Ministry of Lands and Rural Development saying the global observance will become a permanent fixture on the country’s national calendar as Government intensifies efforts to drive rural transformation.
Speaking during this year’s commemorations in Harare on Monday, Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Lands and Rural Development Professor Prosper Matondi said the country would elevate the annual observance to promote public participation in rural development and strengthen engagement with communities.
Observed annually on July 6, World Rural Development Day was established by the United Nations General Assembly to highlight the need to eradicate rural poverty, improve livelihoods, strengthen food systems and accelerate sustainable development in rural communities.
This year’s global theme was “Financing the First Mile of Food Systems.”
Prof Matondi said Zimbabwe should embrace the international observance with the same enthusiasm demonstrated in other parts of the world.
“Next time, I am sure we will be able to do it better and to do a lot more in celebrating this particular day, which will be a calendar signature event in all of our work, in all our planning and in all our strategies,” he said.
He challenged Government officials to move beyond offices and engage directly with communities during future commemorations.
“You should be expected to be out there with society celebrating World Rural Development Day. You were supposed to go out and meet people elsewhere other than in your offices, to meet people and celebrate with them.”
Prof Matondi said the ministry’s mandate extended beyond land administration, with rural development now occupying centre stage in Government’s transformation agenda.
“People know this building as a lands building, but we deal with much more than just land. We deal with rural development, and it is the Alpha and Omega of what and who we stand for. Land is just but an enabler of development or of transformation and modernisation of society.”
He said Zimbabwe also intended to strengthen regional and international collaboration by connecting rural communities with their counterparts across the world to exchange ideas and experiences on sustainable rural development.
“Why should not we? We should also be able to connect with other rural communities across the world, to understand who they are and to interact with them in terms of the definition of what the rural world we aim for should look like.”
Prof Matondi said Government remained committed to ensuring that no community was left behind, adding that rural development would continue to underpin the country’s drive towards Vision 2030 through improved infrastructure, productive land use, rural industrialisation and stronger community participation in development planning.
Online Reporter