Story by John Nhandara
THE government’s Rural Industrialisation Agenda has achieved a significant milestone, amid confirmation that more than 500 business units have been established nationwide, while over 3 000 boreholes have been sunk in rural communities.
The Rural Industrialisation programme, aims to stimulate economic growth and improve livelihoods in rural communities across Zimbabwe.
The lead implementing agency, the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) says the programme encompass the facilitation of sustainable development projects in line with government’s vision for rural transformation.
“These business units are part of the government’s drive to empower rural communities through the provision of water as a constitutional right, a resilience mechanism against climate change and critical socio-economic enabler. Each business unit typically comprises a solar powered borehole, 10 O00-itre water storage reservoirs, a one-hectare drip technology horticulture garden, two fishponds and a communal water point. This is an important development as the country moves towards the attainment of Vision 2030 as the business units are radically transforming livelihoods for rural communities through employment creation, improved food security, income generation and improved access to safe drinking water by communities,” ZINWA’s Corporate Communications Manager, Mrs Marjorie Munyonga said.
Under the rural industrialisation programme, ZINWA is set to sink a borehole in each of the country’s 35 000 villages, paving the way for the establishment irrigation schemes to drive the rural industrialisation agenda.
ZINWA is also expected to spearhead the establishment of business units at schools and vocational training centres.
