The Sunday Mail
Extra Reporter
The three-year-old Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio Economic Transformation (ZimAsset) has remained somewhat abstract to those who do not grasp the objectives of this noble initiative which aims at improving their livelihoods. However, the Chivi Rural District Council (RDC), under the stewardship of the council’s chairman Dr Killer Zivhu, has become a shining beacon in demystifying ZimAsset through various initiatives that are bringing tangible results to the people in the area.
Ordinary folk in Chivi do not only chant Zim Asset’s four clusters like a hymn — food security and nutrition, social services and poverty eradication, infrastructure and utilities as well as value addition and beneficiation; they can easily identify concrete results from the four pillars.
Last week, Dr Zivhu hosted the Chivi ZimAsset Feedback Conference which attracted hundreds of people from Chivi, those from other parts of the country and well as the diaspora population.
According to Chivi RDC acting district administrator, Mr Hlavati Vafias, each of the 36 000 households in the area are earmarked to benefit from ZimAsset initiatives. This will improve the residents’ socio-economic standing.
Speaking at the conference that was held at Chivi RDC offices, Mr Vafias said the district has made great strides in implementing the blueprint.
“Some of the projects that we are implementing are home grown, while other initiatives such as the Brazil More Food programme are Government programmes. We follow up on all the programmes to ensure effective implementation.
“Corporates such as Murowa Diamonds, Tongaat Hullett and many others have contributed to ensure that ZimAsset becomes a reality in Chivi,” he said.
Under the food security and nutrition cluster, several initiatives have been undertaken to counter the debilitating effects of the El-Nino induced drought.
Chivi falls under natural region five and is prone to drought.
Over the past few years, 124 boreholes have been drilled in Chivi through the combined efforts of the Community Share Ownership Trust (CSOT) funded by Murowa diamonds, the District Development Fund and other development partners.
The boreholes are providing water for domestic consumption as well as community irrigation projects.
Some of Chivi’s irrigation projects are powered by solar.
The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has also assisted the horticulture programme, which is providing income for families.
More than 350 youth projects were also established to create employment.
Access to amenities such as health care, water, education and electricity has also significantly improved.
Several new clinics have been built in the area, while a number of treatment centres now have electricity and adequate water supplies, resulting in improvement in the health delivery system in all the 32 wards in Chivi.
A number of new schools have been opened, while new classroom blocks have been built at Mabika and Jochomi Primary Schools as well as Makamba, Muzondo and Domboshave Secondary Schools, amongst others.
In terms of infrastructure and utilities, several new dams have been constructed in Chivi while the old ones have been rehabilitated.
A new state-of-the-art hospital is under construction, with funding coming from a Chinese investor.
In value addition and beneficiation, some youths and women are involved in various initiatives that add value to raw products.
Dr Zivhu said the initiatives are “bringing ZimAsset to the village.”
He said he is driven by the desire to be in “developmental mode as opposed to being in political mode”.
“At times we spend too much time focusing on politics while forgetting that the people need food on the table. This is what should be of paramount importance,” said Dr Zivhu, who is also Zanu PF Secretary for Finance in Masvingo Province.
In her speech, Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs Cde Shuvai Mahofa also stressed the need to prioritise developmental issues.
She said Chivi should leverage on the Tokwe Mukosi Dam, the largest inland water source in the country, to initiate socio-economic programmes hinged on irrigation.
“There are a lot of economic opportunities which can be created through Tokwe Mukosi. The people of Chivi need to make the best out of the dam and create economic opportunities. Various irrigation projects will give way to a lot of economic activity,” she said.
Minister of Psychomotor Services in the Office of the President and Cabinet Cde Josiah Hungwe said Tokwe Mukosi should take the lead supporting the recently introduced command agriculture programme.
“The people of Chivi are very lucky to have Tokwe Mukosi dam in their area. Unlock the numerous opportunities that can be realised from this dam. Command agriculture can be easily implemented because of the dam,” he said.
ZimAsset’s lifespan lapses in 2018 and with only two years to go before then, the time for action is now.
