Churches critical in national development: Mutsvangwa
CHURCHES have been acknowledged as critical actors and vehicles that foster community and human development, and Government will fully support them for an enhanced and sustainable national development, a Cabinet Minister has said.
Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Minister, Senator Monica Mutsvangwa said the church’s contribution in the area of social justice, humanitarian services, education, morality, economic development and peace cannot be underestimated.
She said this during the official unveiling of a borehole at the African Catholic Church led by Bishop Zachariah Matika in Chirinda area of Marange, last Saturday.
Minister Mutsvangwa said the provision of safe drinking water is critical in the fight against cholera as well as empowerment of women and youths through nutrition gardens.
“Even though the cholera outbreak has not been completely eradicated, the strategic interventions and control measures are evident, and we are grateful with the progress made so far.
“It is against this background that President Mnangagwa has introduced the Presidential Rural Development Programme to improve water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) conditions in rural communities. This has also drastically reduced the distance women travel to fetch water,” she said.
Under the programme, which is being implemented through a whole of Government approach, Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) will drill and equip 35 000 boreholes in the country’s 35 000 villages.
“The boreholes will form the anchor component for the establishment of village business units, which typically entail a solar powered borehole, 10 000-litre water storage tanks, a one-hectare drip irrigation technology horticulture garden, fishponds and communal water points,” she said.
Minister Mutsvangwa said the prophetic role of the church is to declare the will of God in the political, social and economic life of the nation.
“With the availability of the borehole, the Chirinda community in which this church operates in will now have a source of clean water and will further have a one-hectare drip irrigation technology horticulture garden and fishponds which will serve as a source of income to improve rural standard of living,” she said.
Minister Mutsvangwa assured the gathering that no one will die of hunger.
She said Government will continue assisting citizens with seed and fertiliser.
“Government gave people inputs so that they can plant, but the deficient rain and high temperatures saw the planted crop wilting before reaching maturity. Government will make sure that no one dies of hunger and has commenced food distribution for the 2023/24 lean season to cushion those whose livelihoods have been negatively impacted by El Nino-induced climatic conditions characterising the agricultural season,” she said.
Mutare is the hardest hit district with 134 431 people in need of food aid, followed by Chipinge (111 523), Buhera (96 682), Makoni (56 511), Chimanimani (34 274), Mutasa (14 974) and Nyanga (12 925).
Minister Mutsvangwa said the drought relief scheme will stretch to March 2025.
Minister Mutsvangwa applauded Bishop Matika for taking a decisive stance against gender based violence, drug and substance abuse, prostitution, promoting education and preserving the sanctity of the marriage institution.
Bishop Matika thanked Government for allowing freedom of worship.
Bishop Matika called on Government to continue supporting churches with various empowerment programmes to ensure enhanced and sustainable national development.