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Brighton Gumbo recently in Mberengwa
THE Ministry of Small to Medium Enterprises and Cooperative Development has launched a cattle fattening project in Mberengwa.

The project is part of a $90,000 fund that was disbursed to six national districts by the United Nation Development Programme (UNDP).

Similar projects are being implemented in Binga, Lupane, Insiza, Gokwe and Umzingwane districts.

A number of Savings and Credit Cooperative Societies (SACCOS) in these six districts have managed to significantly grow their funds from the initial seed capital to have savings totalling $227,163.

In a speech read on her behalf by the permanent secretary in her ministry, Evelyn Ndlovu, the Minister of Small to Medium Enterprises, Sithembiso Nyoni, said on Wednesday the government was promoting smallholder farming competitiveness.

She said the initiative was done through capacity building and market development as enunciated in the leather strategy.

“The Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (Zim-Asset), the 10-point plan and Sustainable Development Goals promote such initiatives, which are aimed at facilitating inclusive growth and leveraging local resources endowment and reduce poverty,” said Nyoni.

“I ardently believe that you will continue to put the money to good use as you grow your income generating activities.”

She said project members’ determination and contribution to the project was commendable as it tilted the scale towards progress.

“I want to acknowledge the dynamism in this group which was the most crucial ingredient for project takeoff,” said Nyoni.

“I’m reliably informed that the group contributed 14,000 construction bricks used in the construction of store rooms and latrines.”

She said the project was a money spinning programme aimed at improving the villagers’ livelihoods.

“As you’ve heard, the programme assisted Tinoedza SACCO in this district with a $10,000 package for income generating projects,” Nyoni said.

“Currently the group has accumulated a fund of about $21,234. This amount is meant to be a revolving fund that will benefit other SACCOs.”

The livelihoods project has been on a pilot basis for the past three years.

It is aimed at addressing peace building, prevention, management and resolution of conflict and to support locally led sustainable community livelihood interventions.