By Christopher Makaza

Vice President Kembo Mohadi has today launched community resilience bakeries project at the India-Africa Incubation Centre in Waterfalls where he highlighted that the projects were meant to empower mainly women and youths.

The Vice President said, “Bread prices have denied ordinary citizens this basic commodity. These bakeries will empower communities especially women and youths. This programme's benefits include rural industrialization and employment creation.

“It is pleasing to note that our people will be able to use simple bread makers nationwide. We can also use biogas, solar and liquid petroleums for these ovens. I am informed that the Ministers of State have been tasked with the duties of facilitating the programme,” he said.

Vice President Mohadi also said government called for ethical working relations in the baking industry and that it notes with great concern the uncalled for continuous price increases of bread urging the established bakeries to work hand in hand with the community bakeries.

Speaking at the same event, Minister of State for Provincial Affairs in Harare, Honourable Oliver Chidawu thanked the Government for the initiative saying it would help in sustaining communities nationwide.

Acting Minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Development, Monica Mutsvagwa said the government wants to replace the monopoly in the bread industry and to revive small scale bakeries which are currently underperforming.

The ruling Zanu-PF party started rolling out community bakery projects country wide in an effort to empower people and protect them from the high cost of basic commodities.

The country has been facing bread shortages due to the shortage of foreign currency to buy wheat and other ingredients.