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By Elvis Dumba
Mt Darwin – As the country celebrates 43 years of independence, the government has made tremendous strides towards economic development in various sectors such as health, mining, education, and agriculture.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa said the country’s own people are responsible for nation-building through peaceful hard work.
Speaking during the 43rd Independence celebrations held in Mt Darwin, President Mnangagwa said his government is investing in agriculture to spur economic growth and is scaling up programs that protect the agriculture sector from the effects of climate change through irrigation schemes
” My government continues to de-risk, and climate-proof agriculture through the development and rehabilitation of irrigation infrastructure as well as dam construction. The dams being constructed across all provinces are set to ensure aspects related to hydropower, fisheries, irrigation development, and potable water benefit our communities.
“Here in Mashonaland Central Province, Semwa, Bindura, Dande, and Mbada dams have been constructed. Piped water
schemes have also been established at Chahwanda, Bveke, Kaitano, Kamutsenzere, and Chigango,” he said to thousands of people who attended the national celebrations which were being held outside Harare.
President Mnangagwa said that with government support, farmers are now taking agriculture as a business as the country moves for growth in the sector.
“In the agriculture sector, we are “Going for Growth”, anchored by an assortment of policies. Under the Pfumvudza/Intwasa Program, our people are being supported to grow traditional grains and cereals. More and more households are moving from subsistence farming to undertaking farming as a business. This 2022/2023 season, our country is projecting over 3.2 million metric tonnes of cereals against an annual requirement of 2.2 million metric tonnes. This momentum will be sustained and the successes consolidated. Together, as one united and hard-working people, we have attained food security and food sovereignty.” h
President Mnangagwa revealed various initiatives being taken by the government to protect the national cattle herd from various diseases with over a million households getting assistance
“The Presidential Teak Grease Program saw over 1 million households are supported with tick grease to mitigate the January disease while efforts are ongoing to improve cattle breeds in communal areas,” the President said.
The agriculture industry has grown from strength to strength due to investment in the agriculture mechanisation aspect.
“Under my Government’s Agriculture Mechanisation Program, our country’s farmers have increased access to mechanisation capacities. As a result of public-private partnerships, a total of 1 641 tractors and combine harvesters were distributed by December 2022, while 4 400 additional tractors are being imported towards closing the farm mechanisation gap. To ensure that our people fully enjoy improved productivity of our land and the ongoing modernisation of my administration, 2-wheeler tractor kits will be availed to our communal and smallholder farmers.
“Additionally, the Second Republic is in the process of drilling one borehole per village across the country, with the accompanying nutrition gardens, orchards, and fisheries also being established. We are unwavering in our commitment to improving the quality of life of our people, no matter where they live, ” President Mnangagwa said in his independence speech.
The 43rd Independence celebrations were celebrated under the theme “Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo,” across the country with Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Mary Mliswa-Chikoka leading the festivities in Mashonaland West Province at Chikangwe Stadium in Karoi where she read the President’s speech whilst Zvimba District Development Coordinator Anele Gumbochuma led the commemorations in Zvimba District’s celebrations held in Zvimba East Constituency.
