The Sunday Mail
At least 2 500 schools will benefit from a US$100 million deal between Government and a private company to drill boreholes and set up of solar-powered irrigation equipment at learning institutions.
The development will see schools contributing towards food security, also creating at least 10 000 jobs in line with the goals of country’s economic blue print, the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable and Socio-Economic Transformation.
The US$100 million deal is being bankrolled by three local financial institutions and seed houses, and leading retailers have pledged to buy the agricultural produce.
It is envisaged that learners will get practical lessons during Agriculture classes that have been made compulsory in all schools.
The partnership under the Zimbabwe Solar Water Agricultural Project (Zimswap) has already sunk 44 boreholes and established irrigation schemes in some schools.
The solar-powered irrigation schemes will provide electricity to the schools. Primary and Secondary Education Minister Dr Lazarus Dokora said: “The deal will ensure that there will be infrastructure development at the schools and improve the learning environment for the pupils.
“Apart from our learners having access to practical lessons, money raised from the projects will be used to construct classrooms and the general improvement of infrastructure at the school. The partnership is massive and thousands of jobs are being created and this is in line with our ZimAsset.”
Under the arrangement, schools will retain 20 percent of the produce while the remainder will be sold to service the five-year US$100 million facility.
Drilling of a borehole and installation of solar-powered irrigation equipment costs between US$10 000 and US$15 000.
Zimswap project manager Mr Privilege Tirivavi told The Sunday Mail that all drilling and installation should be completed within two years, at a rate of at least 100 boreholes and irrigation facilities per month.
“We already have partnerships with local financial institutions and they have provided funding of up to US$100 million.
Leading supermarkets are on board to buy the produce. We are not only setting up irrigation facilities for the schools, but also providing markets,” he said.
Mr Tirivavi said the programme was in line with Government’s community empowerment vision.
“We are employing at least two people to manage the project per school.
‘‘Learners are not part of the labour force, but they will have an opportunity to have practical experience on agriculture considering that the subject is compulsory.”
The boreholes, solar pumps and drip irrigation facilities have a lifespan of about 30 years.
Value addition of the agriculture produce in communities surrounding the schools will also contribute to job creation.
