Bongani Ndlovu
Prosper Ndlovu
A TOTAL of 24 village and school business units (VBUs) will be established in Maphisa, Matobo District in Matabeleland South Province as part of the ongoing preparations for 46th Independence Day Celebrations, according to the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA).
Maphisa would host this year’s annual Uhuru celebrations in line with the Second Republic’s decentralisation of national events.
President Mnangagwa will preside over the event, which is expected to attract thousands of people.
In a latest statement ZINWA head of corporate communications and marketing Mrs Marjorie Munyonga said the 24 VBUs, which are part of the numerous legacy projects earmarked for the province, will greatly transform communities.
“Typically comprising a solar powered borehole, one-hectare drip technology horticulture project, fishponds and a communal water point, village and school business units are transformative interventions being implemented under the auspices of the Presidential Rural Development Programme and are aimed at uplifting livelihoods for rural communities,” she said.
“Under the Presidential Rural Development Programme, which aims to establish 35 000 village business units, 9600 school business units and 4 500 Youth Business Units, ZINWA is the lead implementing agency responsible for infrastructure development.
“These village, school and youth business units are registered as formal companies and are run on sound commercial lines with locals as both employees and shareholders, earning monthly salaries and sharing dividends at the end of a given trading period.”
The Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (ARDA) is responsible for the registration of the business units and their day to day management while the Agricultural Marketing Authority secures markets that inform crops to be grown by business units.
To date, Mrs Munyonga said 11 of the 24 business units have been successfully completed while the remaining 13 are at different levels of completion.
“For purposes of a stable, reliable and uninterrupted water supply during the Independence celebrations, a total of 67 boreholes have since been drilled, including at the venue of the celebrations, host schools and surrounding areas,” she said.
“Four boreholes have been drilled and equipped at Maphisa Stadium; the venue of the celebrations and the necessary water take-off points have been successfully established.
“School business units at Mahetshe Primary, Minda Primary and Tjewondo Secondary school have been completed.”
Other schools that will have business units established and where work towards their establishment is now at an advanced stage include Shashane Secondary School, Tjewondo Primary School, Gohole Primary School, Lingwe Primary School, Kezi Primary School and Mangala Primary School.
About 16 boreholes have also been drilled at the tourism rondavels, said Mrs Munyonga.
Online Reporter