Government intensifies efforts to eradicate poverty in rural areas
GOVERNMENT is concerned about the widening gap between the rural and urban quality of life, investments in infrastructure and social amenities among other things and is determined to bridge the gap and eradicate rural poverty.
Minister of Rural Development, Promotion and Preservation of National Culture and Heritage, Cde Abednico Ncube, who was represented by the ministry’s permanent secretary, Dr Thokozile Chitepo at the National Rural Development Strategy formulation consultative workshop held at a local hotel on Wednesday, said his ministry was particularly created and determined to lead Government’s response to the worsening plight of the rural citizenry.
“The fact that rural poverty continues to rise unabated is reason enough for the ministry to play its part in finding practical solutions that assist the rural citizen to pull out of the poverty trap.
“It is also a serious case for concern that the gap between the rural and urban spheres continues to widen in terms of quality of life, investments in infrastructure and other social amenities, socio-economic opportunities, economic activity, amongst others.
“We are challenged to put our minds together in order to come up with a strategic document that speaks to the needs and aspirations of the rural people,” he said.
In Africa and specifically in Sub-Sahara region, rural population constitute above 80 percent of the total citizens.
Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs, Cde Mandi Chimene, implored on the importance to promote participatory rural development through giving local populations a chance to bring about endogenous initiatives for developing own areas.
“The outsider may not understand the setting, culture, language and other things prevalent in the local area.
“As such, general people, themselves, have to participate in rural development for ownership and the resultant sustainability,” she said.
She hailed Government’s efforts to initiate the formulation of the strategy, saying it came at an opportune time when the country is intensifying efforts to eradicate poverty in rural areas.
Zimbabwe has 70 percent of population residing in rural areas where generally living conditions are worse than their urban counterparts when measured by almost any development indicator, from extreme poverty to access to basic services.
United Nations Development Programme, Ms Wadzanai Madombwe, said the journey of designing a National Rural Development strategy could not have come at a better time as the country had started implementing its commitments on the Sustainable Development Goals 2030 and Zim-Asset.
“The development of this strategy indeed provides a strategic opportunity for the country to harmonise the national development aspirations and hopes of the people of Zimbabwe especially the 67 percent of the population who live in rural areas (2012 National census).
“In many cases, there is so much focus and emphasis on the access and enjoyment of the political rights at the expense of the other human rights such as economic and social rights.
“We believe that this strategy will bridge the gap in addressing the realisation of these other rights and stimulate the rural people and communities to effectively and efficiently contribute their development aspirations,” said Mr Madombwe.
Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 2014 reveals that only 24 percent of rural population had access to improved water sources on their premises and as little as 16,6 percent of youths had used the internet during the reference period.
The workshop, which ends today (Friday), was attended by provincial administrators as well as district administrators among others from across the country who deliberated on the development of the National Rural Development Strategy.