Story by Mhlomuli Ncube
Traditional leaders in Binga have received fishing rigs under a Presidential scheme which has also benefitted women and youths in the district.
Empowering communities is a key priority in the Second Republic. In Binga, where the Zambezi River is a critical source of livelihoods, government has been supporting communities who survive on fishing by availing fishing rigs.
Beneficiaries told the ZBC News, “We want to thank government for continuing to enable empowerment in Binga. This is an important initiative for us here who have always been fishing for a living. We recognise the importance attached by government and our President to empowering Binga people.”
The capacitation of communities is an important part of government’s drive towards an upper middle-income economy by 2030.
Matabeleland North Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Hon Richard Moyo said, “This is a timely intervention by the 2nd Republic under the able leadership of His Excellency, the President E.D. Mnangagwa meant to improve household income levels and general livelihoods for economic benefit.”
“We are seeing a critical drive to empower young people also. This is exactly how our President wants economic empowerment to be,” said the Minister of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational Training, Hon Tino Machakaire.
The Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Dr Anxious Masuka noted, “This is not only a fulfilment of promises but also a critical empowerment initiative which is exactly what rural development is. Our President came to fulfil that promise through these fishing rigs.”
With a significant portion of Binga’s local economy driven by fishing, the initiative has succeeded in commercialising what has traditionally been subsistence activities into thriving money-making ventures of economic empowerment.
