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Staff Writer
There are thousands of village business units being set up by the Government across the country, with some already operational, including about 50 in Murambinda alone where the 44th Independence celebrations are taking place.
During the Uhuru celebrations, President Mnangagwa will officially hand over the model village business units to beneficiaries.
Recently, Cabinet directed that 10 000 business units be established by November this year in a move meant to empower marginalised communities, especially women and youths.
Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Minister Dr Anxious Masuka who toured some of the finished business units in Dzenga area village 15 said the villagers can now sell produce and generate income.
“We should train our people to know that farming is a business. Agriculture indeed can empower the transformation of rural livelihoods,” he said.
One village identified as Gracious Magumbo, thanked President Mnangagwa for economically empowering them.
“I never imagined in my entire life that I would own a business with my fellow villagers. We have vast land which was underutilised but after the provision of water sources and drip irrigation facilities, it is left upon us to shine.
“Next month we should be able to start selling our produce,” she said.
Aleck Mabwea youth from the same village could not hide his joy and thanked the Second Republic for walking the talk and empowering rural communities.
“The Government has provided us with a drip irrigation system which is commendable. Our President should continue to move in that path as we were poverty stricken in this area.
“Water is a scarce resource in this dry land hence having been gifted with solarised boreholes this is commendable. Our lives will never be the same again,” he said.
One of the project implementers, Dr Paul Tungwarara also weighed in saying the 10 000 targets for village business units across the country are achievable.
“The business units that have been established are 38 and we are moving towards our deadline to have set up 50 business units before independence. Here in the Buhera district, some village business units are already in use.
“We are not only doing business in Buhera but across the whole country with works ongoing in Gutu, Plumtree, and Wedza among others,” he said.
Dr Tungwarara said rural development and investment is something that is at the heart of the Government.
“The village business units being set up are in line with the Second Republic’s mantra of leaving no one and no place behind,” he said.