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Writes Elvis Dumba
Chinhoyi – The country’s devolution program where communities participate in key decision-making activities in developing their communities has caught the eyes of international humanitarian and development partners under the United Nations.
This came out after United Nations Resident Coordinator, His Excellency Edward Kallon, paid a courtesy call to Mashonaland West Provincial Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Hon Marian Chombo.
“I am here to conduct an official visit to Mashonaland West Province from October 12-15, 2023, as part of my familiarization tour that took me to so far to eight provinces to understand development programmes in the provinces. I just paid a courtesy call on the Minister, to foster synergies between UN-supported development programs, the Government Devolution Development Fund, and national mega-development projects under the 2021-2025 National Development Strategy,” Ambassador Kallon said.
The UN envoy said the visit will assist in identifying areas of cooperation on devolution programs.
” I intend to first-hand observe food and nutrition security, as well as resilience-building efforts supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Kariba. These efforts are being implemented in collaboration with the Government of Zimbabwe at both the national and local levels.
“This visit aims to strengthen collaboration between the UN and the Government of Zimbabwe, particularly in the areas of development, food security, research, and sustainability, in alignment with national priorities and international development agendas under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.”
His Excellency Kallon, who was accompanied by his wife and UN Development Coordination Officer, Sirak Gebrehiwot said the visit underscores the commitment of the United Nations to supporting the development aspiration of the Government of Zimbabwe in achieving its development goals and advancing the well-being of its people.
It also provides an opportunity to assess the progress made in the implementation of various development programmes and identify areas where further support is needed.
He revealed that the United Nations is committed to working closely with the Government of Zimbabwe and other stakeholders in addressing challenges and seizing opportunities in Mashonaland West Province and contributing to the overall development agenda of the country.
The FAO has partnered with young people in Kariba who are in the fish value chain business and have been supporting research programs on Kariba Dam through the University of Zimbabwe Lake Kariba Research Station.
Welcoming the UN envoy, Mashonaland West Provincial Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Hon Marian Chombo appreciated the support from the United Nations developmental agencies that are partnering government in various sectors.
“We are glad as a country to have such beneficial cooperation with the UN and we appreciate your interest in supporting the government’s devolution agenda as we strive to ensure that no place or person is left behind in development. We are happy that you are also supporting rural development as we have a rural development 8.0 plan to ensure that our rural populace is not left behind in development programs,” she said.
Hon Chombo said Mashonaland West prides itself as the best province when it comes to agriculture where the province managed to be wheat self-sufficient.