Chiredzi set for massive transformation

Harare (New Ziana) – The government has set in motion plans to transform Chiredzi, in Masvingo Province, into “a major growth zone,” leveraging on its existing agricultural capacity and potential, Deputy Chief Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet George Charamba has said.

This, he said, was in sync with the development trajectory being pursued for other marginalised areas of Zimbabwe including Kanyemba, Binga and Middle Sabi.

In Kanyemba, for example, the government is funding the clearing of 300 000 hectares of land for irrigation fed agricultural activities, under a plan to turn the Lowveld into a green belt.

To ramp up government’s transformation plans, Charamba said Vice President Constantino Chiwenga was in Chiredzi on Sunday, for stakeholder consultations.

“President Mnangagwa has assigned VP Chiwenga and responsible ministries to develop a comprehensive strategy for development of all historically marginalised areas including Kanyemba, Gwayi-Shangan, Beitbridge, Middle Sabi and Binga,” he tweeted.

“The Vice President is set to brief local leadership before addressing different stakeholders on government plans for the area which has been identified as a zone of major agricultural activity. The Chiredzi development master plan got a major fillip from the good rainfall season which the country enjoyed and which left most inland dams spilling.”

Charamba said the abundant water reserves in Masvingo Province were a major boost for the growth plan.

“The plan now is to get communities downstream to benefit from these water bodies which historically have been a preserve of large scale multi-national commercial agriculture,” he said.

“Fortuitously, the so called marginalised areas have the best water harvesting facilities along major rivers. That apart, they have high temperatures which make them frost free and thus wielding enormous possibilities agriculturally.”

Chiredzi is a major sugarcane growing area.

A massive Lucerne grass irrigation project is also being pursued in the Chilonga area of Chiredzi as part of government’s thrust to promote expanded land use while empowering local communities through-out-grower schemes.
New Ziana