Musikavanhu MP elect rescues farmers
HUNDREDS of small scale farmers at Chibuwe irrigation scheme in Chipinge have hailed Zanu PF parliamentary elect for Musikavanhu Cde Joshua Murire for coming to their rescue through the de-siltation of Save River.
The farmers have been grappling with shortages of resources to channel irrigating water from source due to siltation blamed on poor farming methods along Save River.
Cde Murire won the parliamentary ticket for Musikavanhu after touching the hearts of many by targeting long term sustainable developmental projects.
Mr Phenios Mlambo, a small holder farmer from Chibuwe Communal Lands said Cde Murire provided the equipment to de-silt the crocodile infested Save River.
“He was always there for us whenever we approached him for help. At times he would use his own resources to hire machinery that was used to remove sand that was blocking our irrigation pumps.
“Without him, the irrigation scheme would have suffered immeasurable loses. It was no mean task to de-silt Save River because we lack the resources. Lots of lives were risked to remove sand which blocks pumps. The river is infested with crocodiles, and we thank him for sourcing the de-silting machinery,” he said.
An elderly farmer, Mrs Perangei Sigauke said Cde Murire has the interests of the down trodden at heart.
“He has done so well in representing our interests. He has been consistent and always on the ground despite losing the 2013 poll to Mr Prosper Mutseyami of MDC-T.
“The work he has done in this constituency is there for all to see. Cde Murire has done so much for the elderly. He is a man of actions and his work speaks for itself . He truly deserves a chance this time around because he has the capacity to help and link us to the relevant offices,” she said.
Mr Passmore Maronga said Musikavanhu was more like an orphaned constituency.
“We all know that the Musikavanhu MP has deserted us for the Dangamvura-Chikanga constituency in Mutare. He was invisible and it was Cde Murire who was always on the ground listening and proffering solutions to our challenges. He helped farmers in many ways and we will continue to work with him because he has a heart for the people. He engages local companies like the Green Fuel to assist community with motorised graders which we used in earth work during the exercise to diverting water from the river to our pumps after the irrigation scheme faced acute water shortages. He promised to source funds to transform our old borehole system into solar-powered ones,” said Mr Maronga.
Cde Murire said Musikavanhu is one of the most backward constituencies in the country.
He said a lot needs to be done to improve the livelihoods in the marginalised constituency.
Musikavanhu lies in natural region five and severe hunger often spreads like a cancer as crops wilt in the scorching heat and never reaches maturity due to a combination of erratic rains, severe mid-season dry spell, overworked infertile soils and erratic supply of drought-resistant inputs to the communal farmers.
Cde Murire said his vision was to spearhead developmental politics ahead of mere talk.
“The constituency has a potential to develop but due to lack of political leadership that steer development, the area is regressing. I was forced to intervene after realising that the livelihoods of communal farmers at the irrigation scheme were under a serious threat.
“As a responsible leader, I also facilitated rehabilitation of a number of schools in remote areas, including the construction of teachers’ houses at Musikavanhu and Masimbe primary schools where teachers were reluctant to stay due to shortage of decent and habitable accommodation. I also initiated the establishment of secondary schools in Rukangare, Musikavanhu and Rimai areas. I have assisted farmers to access financial resources to grow their farming projects,” said Cde Murire.