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Patrick Chitumba, Midlands Bureau Chief
THE Manoti area in Gokwe South is poised for an economic boom following the launch of the Presidential Rural Horticulture

Transformation Programme aimed at uplifting marginalised communities in line with the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS 1).

Under the programme, a borehole will be drilled in each ward and schools in marginalised communities such as Manoti area to enable villagers to practice horticulture and empower themselves.

Government has set targets for rural farmers to contribute to the country’s food basket through horticulture.

The Government targets to have at least one nutrition and income-generating garden per village targeting the marginalised villagers across the country.

The Second Republic is making deliberate efforts to uplift the livelihoods of marginalised communities to ensure that everyone plays a part in the quest to attain Vision 2030.

Addressing villagers and Government officials gathered at Manoti Business Centre for the launch of the programme in Gokwe at the weekend, State Security Minister Owen Ncube said the Second Republic continues to score successes in the upliftment of the people across the country.

He said there were tangible development programmes brought by the Second Republic under the leadership of President Mnangagwa.

“Our Government, under the wise leadership of President Mnangagwa, is doing a lot for the country through the various developmental initiatives. Within a short space of time, we have seen what the Government has done and continues to do under the stewardship and visionary leadership of His Excellency the President,” said Minister Ncube.

He said roads were being rehabilitated adding that the country has witnessed a successful 2020/2021 agriculture season anchored on programmes such as Pfumvudza/ Intwasa.

“Only jealous people will fail to see the major strides the Government has made in terms of bringing development closer to the people.

These boreholes we see being drilled are part of empowering the people which must then set up gardens and transform their areas. The Pfumvudza/ Intwasa programme is another clear example of such projects spearheaded by the Second Republic which are people-centred,” said Minister Ncube.

The Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Resettlement, Dr Anxious Masuka, said the launch of the programme will empower previously marginalised communities.

“We expect an economic boom in rural Manoti area and other marginalised communities as we launch the Presidential Rural Horticulture Transformation Programme — a programme that is aimed at uplifting the marginalised communities in line with the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS 1),” he said.

The Second Republic — he said —will not stop until communities are capacitated.

Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) chief executive officer Engineer Taurayi Maurikira said the authority was drilling boreholes across the country in each ward so that the communities have the water resource to use to make the horticulture programme a success.

With water available, he said, communities should record success stories since they already have the land.

The Manoti community welcomed the Government’s development programme.

“The people in this village were finding it difficult to access clean water. We are very happy that the Government has remembered us. I am looking forward to starting a small garden that will help in raising school fees for my children. This shows that we have a listening Government. Even our livestock will get water to drink from this initiative,” said Mr Tonderai Nkala.