Zivhu kickstarts developmental projects

Cde Zivhu, who is the outgoing president of the Association of Rural District Councils (ARDC), launched the Hwange chapter of the project yesterday at Jabulani Village near Victoria Falls.

Of the 1 000 goats, each homestead will get five goats as seed capital.

One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Anna Ngwenya (80) not only received the seed capital, but also an assortment of groceries, which the Foundation undertook to donate on a monthly basis.

The Foundation also pledged to build a three-roomed house and a kitchen for the elderly woman who currently lives with her seven-year-old grandson in a dilapidated hut.

The envisaged $15 000 property will be completed by November this year.

Speaking at Mrs Ngwenya’s homestead, where the goat rearing project was launched, Cde Zivhu said, “We are all Zimbabweans regardless of where we come from or live. If you visit Chipinge today, you shouldn’t feel lost but feel at home. We have helped many people through Cross Border Traders Association and this goat project will also help many.

“We are doing surprise visits to different communities to assess the situation. We have been duly elected as MPs and now we are going to meet the people.

“Some people can’t afford decent lives and as MPs, let’s not only look at our constituencies, let’s be nationalists.

‘‘We have to empower our people regardless of where they live.”

Cde Zivhu said the income-generating projects are meant to lift communities out of poverty.

“In terms of the goat project, a homestead will get five goats each and we expect that after five years, the beneficiaries will have managed to buy cattle and send their children to school,” he said.

The legislator said his Foundation will endeavour to implement a women’s club through which targeted homesteads will benefit from model kitchen huts.

Jabulani village head Mr Gama Siwela said there were several disadvantaged families that need help in the area.

The Killer Zivhu Foundation – which is also pursuing separate projects to empower remote rural skills with solar powered initiatives, gardens and chicken rearing projects — also pledged to work with the local leadership.

“Next time we come here, we will be with the provincial minister, chief and other leaders so that we do this together,” he said