FORTY national youth service graduates in Mashonaland Central have become
overnight heroes in Mt Darwin South after constructing a community dip tank in
Chishava Village, one of many villages in the constituency whose livestock was
cleared by the deadly January Disease due to lack of livestock dipping chemicals.
The dip tank, could be the best community dip tank so far in the province if not
nationwide due to its state of-the-art infrastructure.
The dip tank has a well ventilated dip tank, attendants’ office with ablution facilities
using the flushing toilet system. Farmers can also use the facilities.
Instead of farmers taking turns to fill up the dipping pool, the youth constructed a big
water reservoir beside the dip. They then constructed a pipe line from Centre
Zimbabwe Africa High School, which is nearby, to supply water to the tank.
A few farmers who spoke to this publication hailed the youths for their patriotism.
Christance Manyika, of Manyika Village, said his father lost all his cattle over the
past three years due to the January Disease.
“We had a herd of around 15 beasts around 2019. We, however, lost all of them over
the past three years.
“While others were managing to buy the dipping chemicals on their own, we were not
able to do so, hence we lost everything.
“We are very happy that these national youth service graduands thought of us,” said
Manyika.
According to Village Head Mushepu, (Amos Mandaza), the village head of a nearby
village to Chishava, and whose subjects depend on Chishava dip tank, the dip tank
was last used around 2010.
“It went down around 2010 and ever since farmers were self-dipping their livestock.
With the coming in of the January Disease pandemic in 2019, those who could not
dip their livestock, lost all.
“We are very thankful to the Government of Zimbabwe for nurturing such youths
dedicated to build their country. True to the President’s daily mantra: Nyika inovakwa
nevene vayo,” said Village Head Mushepu.
The 40 youths were undergoing national youth service training at Centre Zimbabwe
Africa High School courtesy of the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Development
and Vocational Training.
They graduated a fortnight ago at the same high school and handed their certificates
by the Deputy Minister of Youth Empowerment, Development and Vocational
Training, Kudakwashe Mupamhanga, who is also Mt Darwin South Member of
Parliament.