Youths allocated land for farming

MARONDERA- Forty youths from Marondera, Seke and Chikomba districts of
Mashonaland East province were recently allocated land for agricultural purposes.
Each of the beneficiaries was allocated 10 hectares and the move is part of the
Second Republic’s initiative to empower the young generation.

The youths who were allocated the land received training in agriculture and are
ready to work towards ensuring food security for the province and the nation at large.
One of the beneficiaries, Lynette Nyamakope from Mutoko who got her piece of land
in Chikomba district thanked the Second Republic led by President Mnangagwa for
the gesture

She said: “I would like to express my gratitude to President Mnangagwa and the
Government for this noble gesture. I come from Mutoko but I was allocated 10
hectares of land in Chikomba district and I will work hard to make sure that I
contribute to the country’s food security. In the whole of my family, I am the first one
to be a beneficiary of land and I am excited about that.”

Chris Saidi, another beneficiary, said they had been privileged to be given the land
as it was an opportunity for them to contribute in the nation’s food security.

“As one of the beneficiaries, I am happy to have been given 10 hectares of land. I
thank President Mnangagwa for that. What he did is really commendable and it
shows that he has the upliftment of our livelihoods at heart.

“This is an opportunity for me to work even harder for the country. I am going to work
towards ensuring food security for the province and the nation at large. Right now I
have started clearing the 10 ha and soon, I will start planting. Nothing will stop me
from getting good yields. I will do my best to utilise this land productively,” he said.

Passion Hodzi from Uzumba Maramba Pfungwe who was also allocated 10 hectares
of land in Chikomba district said he will work on his land productively.

“We will surely achieve Vision 2030. Having a piece of land is the kind of
empowerment we will always cherish. What President Mnangagwa has done for us
is commendable and I will not waste time but work tirelessly on my farm,” he said.

Dr Aplonia Munzverengwi, the Minister of State for Mashonaland East Provincial
Affairs and Devolution, officiated in the allocation of the plots.

She implored the beneficiaries to work on the land for the best of the province and
the nation.

“Those whom we are allocating plots have already trained in agricultural studies and
received certificates. They have the knowledge on how they can work on the land to
help boost the country’s agriculture sector.

“This is the first group of beneficiaries and before we came here, we passed by
Grasslands where we wanted these youths to see their cattle which they were given
by President Mnangagwa.

“We asked the Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (RIDA) to assist the youths
who benefitted here with a tractor so that they can prepare their land on time. We are
already in the summer cropping season and the beneficiaries of this land should start
farming this season.

“It is our fervent hope that the beneficiaries will use this land productively. Some of
them will venture into horticulture and poultry and at the end of the day, they will be
in a position to uplift their livelihoods. My message to them is they should get down
to work and we want to see positive results through productive use of the land,” she
said.

The director of RIDA in Mashonaland East province, Engineer Phoebe Maposa said
the organisation will assist the youth with tractors as they start their farming projects.

“Promoting youths in their projects is a step in the right direction for our nation and
that is why you see there is our tractor here working on this piece of land. We appeal
for more resources so that we can be able to assist all these youths in time,” she
said.
The country’s Zimbabwe’s economy is largely agro-based, while youth
empowerment is a key pillar in the economic development of the nation.