The Sunday News
Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau
GOVERNMENT has this year availed $15 million to empower Zimbabweans under the Community Development Fund.
The fund, which is being administered by the Ministry of Women Affairs, Small and Medium Enterprises and Community Development will be channelled through specified and open projects across all genders.
This was said by the Acting Director of Community Development in the Ministry (Women Affairs), Mr Jairos Mandizadza recently while addressing villagers from Ward 4 in Beitbridge during assessment of the Mvelelo Mashonzha/Amacimbi (mopani worms) processing plant at Matshiloni area.
“The $15 million Community Development Fund caters for projects which have inclusivity of both men and women. Those eligible for this fund should take note of this requirement. Where a project only involves women, they may apply for funding through the Zimbabwe Women Development Fund which also falls under the Ministry of Women Affairs.
“So far we have written to our provincial head requesting them to call for project proposal from the communities around them. On the list of identified projects eligible for funding, you may see other opportunities to exploit. That money has been divided into certain categories to assist those on specified projects and another portion on open projects”.
The official said they were also facilitating the implementation of handcrafts projects countrywide. He said this was done to promote active participation in economic development across all genders. Mr Mandizadza said they were in the process of identifying areas to roll out Skills and Entrepreneurship Community Development Centres.
“The Government has also availed some funds for the Skills Entrepreneurship Community Development Centres which will be set up in the not so distant future. This project will be done in phases due to limited resources. These are areas where members of the community may use to carry out their various income-generating projects,” said the official.
