. . . 127 units operational

GOVERNMENT has drilled more than 2 700 boreholes countrywide to anchor the development of village business units (VBUs) that are being established under the Presidential Rural Development Programme.

To date, 127 VBUs and 33 school business units have been set up.

VBUs are registered rural development enterprises meant to boost economic activity and improve livelihoods in rural communities.

They are typically one-hectare plots equipped with irrigation systems, greenhouses and other agricultural infrastructure, where villagers engage in horticulture, with the produce sold to ready markets.

The VBUs programme was launched by President Mnangagwa in Jinjika village, Mangwe district, Matabeleland South province, in 2021.

It is envisaged that up to 1,8 million households will benefit from the programme by 2025. Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) corporate communications and marketing manager Mrs Marjorie Munyonga said: “The Presidential Rural Development Programme is progressing well with the drilling of boreholes and establishment of village business units.

“The boreholes are the anchor component for the establishment of village business units, which typically include a solar-powered borehole, water storage tanks, fishponds, a one-hectare drip technology horticulture garden and communal water points.

“To date, a total of 2 703 boreholes have been drilled across the provinces, with 127 village business units having been set up and fully functional.

“Under the programme, 33 school business units have been established, together with six youth business units.”

The Government has already mapped the 35 000 villages in the country and plans to expedite the borehole drilling programme to ensure that they all have clean, safe drinking water points that are solar-powered.