By Kudakwashe Kutinyo
The government recently commissioned 29 tractors in Matabeleland North Province for road rehabilitation and tillage programme under the Road Infrastructure Development Agency.
The handover was conducted at Ntabazinduna base in Umguza were 20 tractors will be for road maintainance while the other nine will provide tillage services for local communities.
The commissioned tractors are among the fleet acquired from Belarus as the two nations continue to strengthen their relations. The tillage units will be welcomed by villagers whose livestock has been ravaged by drought with those remaining too weak to power ploughs.
Matabeleland North Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Richard Moyo said the tractors were a stepping stone towards transforming the country into an upper middle income society.
“This is an ongoing recapitalisation of the institution, in recognition of the enormous responsibility that our President has placed on Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (Rida) to drive the transformation of rural communities.
“The equipment will be at the base camps such as this one in Ntabazinduna from where all the agency’s services will be accessed,” he said.
Rural Infrastructure Development Agency enhances the government’s devolution agenda that seeks to serve marginalised rural populations by leaving no place and anyone behind.
The programme also aims to elevate the capacity of state institutions to deliver adequate services and improve the quality of livelihoods of rural poeple in the country.
Minister Moyo added that the tractors will also help local authorities who have been overwhelmed with projects to complete them timeously for the benefit of the people.
“I am also pleased to note that RIDA has made available its equipment to other local authorities to use. To the rural communities this is your equipment supplied to you by your own government for your own benefit,” he said.
New Ziana
