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Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, [email protected]

PLANS are underway to establish a drought mitigation centre at a 19 000ha three-tier model farm in Wanezi, Insiza District in Matabeleland South, which will be a model for other three tier farmers to promote full land utilisation.

Three tier farms are a type of land allocation scheme where communities were given access to former commercial farms as additional grazing land to reduce pressure on communal grazing areas.

Under the model, land is allocated for homesteads, cropping and grazing to address livestock oriented communities’ needs.
Villagers are restricted from settling within the grazing area. In Matabeleland South, the three- tier model is found in four districts, including Insiza. Wanezi block three tier farm is benefitting the community of Insiza South.

Speaking recently while addressing community members from the area, Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Resettlement Dr Anxious Masuka commended the community for abiding by the three-tier model requirements through preserving their grazing area.

He said he visited the area to appreciate how the Wanezi block three tier farm could be developed to serve as a learning point for other farmers.

“I’m here to strengthen the three-tier model and not to destroy it. We have to enhance this three-tier model so we can bring the much needed development,” said Dr Masuka.

“There are four wards benefitting from this farm and we will establish four ward drought mitigation centres here. We will start by drilling four boreholes and this should be done next month.

“This three tier farm is meant to support livestock production and we should have mechanisms put in place to support animal production,” he added.

Wanezi Dam

“The centres will house solar powered boreholes, nutrition gardens, livestock feeding troughs, livestock water troughs, supplementary feeding troughs and livestock sales centres. Each centre will also have fish ponds.”

Dr Masuka said once the drought mitigation centres have been established other farmers from other three tier farming areas will visit the area to learn.

He also called on the livestock department to capacitate the farmers on pasture management for proper use of their grazing area.

The development of three-tier farms is part of efforts by Government to boost the agricultural sector in line with the Rural Development 8.0 Programme.

Dr Masuka later unpacked the programme to the community and highlighted the initiatives that have been rolled out by President Mnangagwa to transform rural communities. He said attaining Vision 2030 is about communities utilising their resources to develop themselves and one of the greatest resource of the country is the land.

Wanezi Block 3 tier farm caretaker, Mr Collin Siziba, said the community was allocated the farm in 1994 and four wards in the district with about 2 600 households were benefitting.

Mr Siziba said the grazing area has been providing relief to community members, especially during drought situations.

“We have people that temporarily stay in the farm in make shift structures to herd cattle but we haven’t allowed anyone to settle in the farm,” he said.

Chief Maduna

“We need assistance in developing the farm as we need paddocks and water points to sustain our animals. During drought situations, the farm is a lifeline for our animals hence we know the importance of this place.”

Chief Maduna said it comes as a huge relief to know that the community will be given title deeds for the farm as it is of sentimental value to the community. He said in the past, some people have tried to take over Wanezi Block 3 tier farm and the title deeds will help the community of Insiza to protect their revolutionary gain.

Chief Maduna said traditional leaders have maintained their ground in ensuring that no one settles in their grazing land.
The Land Tenure Implementation Programme was officially launched by President Mnangagwa in December 2024 and is expected to grant full ownership to beneficiaries who include 23 000 A2 farmers and 280  000 A1 farmers.

Government has established a one-stop centre to streamline the issuance of title deeds for landholders. It is part of efforts to enhance land tenure security and productivity in the country.
-@DubeMatutu