Staff Reporter
The Presidential Rural Development Programme is making significant strides in Zimbabwe, with 164 villages, 44 schools and 20 youth centres already reaping the benefits of the 228 business units established so far.
This ambitious initiative aims to set up a total of 35 000 village business units and 9 600 school business units by 2025, fostering rural industrialization while addressing critical needs in food security, income generation and job creation.
A major component of the programme involves the drilling of boreholes to ensure the provision of clean drinking water.
To date, 2 972 boreholes have been drilled, with 1 166 already equipped with bush pumps. The Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA), in collaboration with the Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (ARDA), the Agricultural Marketing Authority (AMA), and the Agriculture Finance Corporation (AFC), is spearheading these efforts.
Under the planned scope of the programme, ZINWA aims to drill 35,000 boreholes across the country's villages, with additional boreholes designated for 9,600 schools and 4,500 youth centres.
ZINWA’s Corporate Communications and Marketing Manager, Mrs Marjorie Munyonga, highlighted the transformative impact of these developments.
"The village business units are operated commercially by local communities who are both shareholders and employees, driving sustainable development and economic empowerment," she stated.
A local development expert, Nickros Kajengo, also commented on the initiative, emphasizing its potential to transform rural economies.
"These business units are not just about providing services but are crucial hubs for community development and skill sharing, essential for long-term sustainability," Kajengo remarked.
The business units are managed with the support of ARDA, which assists in their formal registration as companies, while the AMA secures markets for the products generated by these enterprises. Additionally, AFC has been instrumental through the provision of necessary funding, while the distribution of benefits is widespread, with projections indicating that thousands of villages across various provinces, including Manicaland, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland West, Masvingo, Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South, and Midlands will benefit from this comprehensive development programme.
This initiative is a cornerstone of Zimbabwe’s strategy to enhance rural economies, providing a robust framework for sustainable development and community empowerment.
