By Johannes Mike Mupisa
Mwenezi North Constituency has successfully completed an intensive training programme for beneficiaries of 33 Village Business Units (VBUs) and two School Business Units, marking another milestone in the drive to strengthen food security and ensure the long-term sustainability of community development projects.
Following the rollout of the Government-supported VBUs, the MP for Mwenezi North Constituency, Master Makope, brought together key stakeholders to equip beneficiaries with practical skills in project management, production and sustainability.
Speaking on the initiative, MP Makope said the training was inspired by the need to ensure that development projects remain productive long after their establishment.
“After the Government, under the leadership of His Excellency the President Mnangagwa through the responsible ministry, allocated these VBUs to our constituency, I felt it was important to engage stakeholders to train beneficiaries. We have seen many community projects fail simply because people were not equipped with the knowledge to manage them effectively.
“In addition, through the Presidential Poultry Programme, we ensured that every VBU received 60 Road Runner chicks to complement and strengthen these projects. We are grateful to His Excellency the President for this transformative initiative.”
District Agronomist Jemitias Denhere applauded the initiative, describing it as a model of coordinated rural development.
“This is a commendable undertaking by the Honourable Member of Parliament. It has brought together all relevant stakeholders with one common objective of improving food security and enhancing rural livelihoods.
“The Village Business Units are spread across every ward in Mwenezi North as part of the programme’s second phase, building on the initial phase in which each ward received one Village Business Unit.”
The programme also extended to the education sector, with Chatagwi Primary School and Chingami Primary School benefiting from School Business Units.
Chingami Primary School headmaster, Phiri, said the project was already transforming the school’s agricultural activities.
“Water is the backbone of the rural economy. As Chingami Primary School, we have established a piggery and a nutrition garden producing green vegetables, peas and tomatoes that will support our school feeding programme.
“True to the Second Republic’s mantra, ‘Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo,’ these projects must be protected and properly managed to ensure resilience, sustainability and lasting benefits for future generations.”
The completion of the training programme is expected to enhance productivity, improve household incomes and strengthen food security across Mwenezi North, reinforcing the Government’s vision of empowering rural communities through sustainable agricultural enterprises.
