A new dawn for Porta Farm

Tendai Chara

UNTIL recently, the Porta Farm area, located on the peripheries of Lake Chivero, just outside Norton, along the Harare-Bulawayo highway, was a desolate and lifeless farming community.

The majority of those that resided in this area were mostly farmworkers, squatters and marauding bands of fishmongers.

A formerly sprawling informal settlement, Porta Farm was turned into a residential area that housed families that had been moved from illegal stands in Harare through “Operation Murambatsvina”.

The operation was a clean-up that was initiated by the Government to rid the country of slums in towns and cities.

For long, the Porta Farm community featured in the media mostly for such wrong reasons as violence, gold panning and poaching.

In 2019, illegal gold miners temporarily set up camp at the nearby Kintyre Estates where they tore into a mountain supporting the walls of Lake Chivero.

The illegal miners were increasing the pollution of an already toxic Lake Chivero through the use of chemicals such as mercury.

Fishmongers that resided in the area were infamous for their penchant for violence and many other criminal activities. However, that has all changed! The farm, together with the neighbouring Kintyre Estates areas, which fall under the auspices of the Zvimba Rural District Council, has since been transformed into an organised business hub.

A recent visit by The Sunday Mail Society confirmed the developments.

A number of building projects, among them a complex that will house a fast food outlet and a warehouse, have been completed.

The number of farmers whose products are on display along the highway has greatly increased.

A private clinic has brought health care closer to the community.

The establishment of a multi-million dollar tile manufacturing plant by a Chinese company, Sunny Yi Feng, has further brought stability to the area.

Apart from creating employment for locals, the tile-making company also works closely with the local community in maintaining and rehabilitating local roads.

Recently, the company held a consultative meeting with Zvimba residents where relations between the community and the company were further cemented.

The collaboration between the Chinese-owned

company, Porta Manyame Farmers Association and residents of Zvimba East is proving to be a masterstroke.

“Both the company and the community benefit from the vast natural resources that are abundant in this area. We periodically repair the Porta Road and we also often hold meetings where we discuss developmental issues with the community,” said Mr Leo Wang, an official with Sunny Yi Feng.

“During such meetings, we also discuss with the community how we can effectively implement our social responsibility programmes,” he added.

Mr Doubt Chinodakufa, a local farmer, is excited about the rapid development of the area.

“As farmers, we are going to open new markets when the other businesses become operational. Also, our children are going to be employed by the new companies,” he said.

Mr John Mutobvu, another local farmer, weighed in.

“This area is developing fast. However, there is a need for a farmers’ market. We are currently taking our produce to

Mbare, which is very far,” Mr Mutobvu said.

Mr Ruzai Muchaurawa, the Zvimba Rural District councillor for Ward 25, under which Porta Farm falls, is pleased with the recent developments.

“The opening of the businesses will create employment opportunities for locals. We want more and more companies to come and invest in our area,” he said.

“The farmers are willing to construct a farmers’ market in this area.

‘‘This area, however, belongs to the Harare City Council and we will have to engage the relevant authorities for them to establish a market,” explained Muchaurawa.

Mrs Shelley Ndarasika, another local, applauded the recent developments which she said are making the area safe.

Residents used to get mugged at the corner of Bulawayo and Porta Farm roads.

However, with more activities due to increased business and proper lighting systems, it is now a thing of the past.

The area’s close proximity to Harare is making it one of the most sought-after places by home seekers.