Story by Tichaona Kurewa
THE Presidential Poultry Scheme continues to attract private sector support, with lithium producer Kamativi Mining Company launching a revolving poultry project targeting women in Hwange District, Matabeleland North Province.
The initiative is benefitting more than 30 women through the provision of chicks, feed and market linkages, as part of efforts to improve livelihoods, strengthen food security and advance rural development in line with Vision 2030.
Beneficiaries say the project is transforming their lives by creating income-generating opportunities and promoting financial independence.
“The project is indeed a game changer. It has given us an opportunity to work for ourselves without relying on our husbands. It is giving us financial independence as women,” association member, Mrs Shamiso Mariga said.
Chairperson of the women’s association, Mrs Mallitha Mudenda said the group is already planning to expand operations into other income-generating ventures.
“With this project, as women, we can now meet our own personal needs without really asking for help from anyone. After this project, we want to expand and even have thousands of chickens while diversifying into other projects such as horticulture and piggery,” she said.
Officials say the programme complements Government empowerment initiatives being implemented across the country.
“This project feeds into the Presidential Poultry Scheme, which is also catering for other areas. Here in Kamativi, this project is also filling gaps left by the Presidential Scheme, and this ensures that the whole country is covered. This will also ensure that Vision 2030 becomes a reality,” Ward Empowerment Officer in the Ministry of Women Affairs and Community Development, Mrs Mitchelle Nyoni said.
Kamativi Mining Company says the initiative was introduced to create sustainable economic opportunities for women who are not directly employed in mining operations.
“We started in 2025, and now we have over 30 women we supported with more than 400 chicks, which have since reached maturity. We supported the group with feed and other project necessities, and we have also linked them with a ready market. The expectation is that, when they sell this batch, they then expand the project or venture into other lucrative projects such as piggery. We realised that most women are not being absorbed at the mine because of the nature of work there, so we are now empowering women through projects,” Corporate Social Responsibility Officer, Mr Mehluli Moyo said.
Since its inception in 2022, the Presidential Poultry Scheme has benefited more than 200 000 households nationwide, with over two million chicks distributed across the country.
