Derick Tsimba
The country has already started reaping rewards from the progressive initiatives by the Second Republic to move the country forward. Last year, Government moved closer to achieving its optimal agricultural yield since the land reform programme by funding small scale farmers through the Pfumvudza programme whose results have surpassed expectations.
Pfumvudza, a crop production growth method whereby farmers ensure efficient utilization of resources on a small scale of land has proven to be a success on crop management.
Most families who engaged in the Pfumvudza programme are going to be food secure owing to the government initiatives, which was accompanied by timely distribution of inputs to small holder farmers around the country.
Participation by government also in command farming has proven to be a game changer. Through the utilisation of Command farming inputs last year and owing to the good rainfall, farmers will be smiling all the way to the banks. Subsequently, this year impressive yield is filling up silos with grain and Mhangura, Lion’s Den and Banket silos in Mashonaland West are already taking the lead.
Officially Zimbabwe is earmarked to harvest up to 2.8 million tonnes of maize this year, three times more than the 2020 output. Zimbabwe requires about 1.8 million tonnes of maize each year for consumption by its citizens. At this rate the country could regain its bread basket status in Southern Africa and once more export the white grain to other countries in need.
Closing up the gap of underdevelopment and unemployment which had entangled the nation for the past four decades, the Second Republic has geared itself as a practical government. Today the country has in place the best projects which have been implemented so far empowering the citizens.
According to the Finance and Economic Development Minister, Professor Mthuli Ncube, massive economic development projects are going to be unleashed from Tugwi-Mukosi Dam with a potential to increase the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Tugwi-Mukosi, a successful government initiative, has an extensive capacity of 1.8 billion cubic meters of water if full. This massive water body has great potential for irrigation, fisheries, tourism facilities and hydro power generation.
Under the devolution of power framework, the country’s provinces are set to fully benefit from their resources, Masvingo province being a typical example.
Towards a successful implementation of the devolution programme, government continues to devolve power through an elaborate programme to promote development through the Zimbabwe Local Government Association (ZILGA). ZILGA is the umbrella body for the country’s urban and rural local authorities, which continue to push for advocacy work, advising Government on best strategies to fine-tune devolution implementation.
Operationalizing the devolution programme has not been easy because of the challenges from corrupt MDC-A councillors who dominate the local authorities. Besides such hindrances local authorities have been able to address infrastructure development through government intervention. The country has been witnessing the rehabilitation of the road network, the building of clinics and schools and the procurement of various service delivery equipment such as refuse trucks, graders and tippers.
For Harare Province about $1 billion in devolution funds has been provided for the completion of 18 high-impact projects, which should see the rehabilitation of Harare Metropolitan Province’s water reticulation and sewer systems.
Seventy million dollars ($70m) from the Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) for the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme (ERRP) was also provided to Harare Province.
Thirty two million ($32m) has been provided to Chitungwiza Municipality for the procurement of two refuse compactors and ambulances. The Ruwa Local Board has a share of $19 million to be utilised on waste management projects. Epworth Local Board, got $185 million aimed at conducting feasibility studies for constructing a quarry dam and rehabilitation of its wastewater systems.
Devolution has a positive direct impact on development and it has the potential to move the country towards the attainment of an upper middle class economy by 2030.
