The Sunday News
Amanda Ncube, Sunday News Reporter
UMGUZA Rural District on Friday officially launched a project meant to capacitate communities and promote development through taking initiatives to curb drought.
The project — Resilience Building Project is jointly implemented by the Ministries of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development, Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare and Local Government, Public Works and National Housing’s department of Civil Protection Unit as well as the Food and Nutrition Council.
Speaking at the event, District Administrator Mrs Ennety Sithole said this was an important programme driven by various institutions as well as donors aimed at strengthening capacity, building assets and enhancing productivity.
“This important occasion is intended to launch the project titled strengthening institutions, building assets and enhancing productivity. This three-year project under the banner Zimbabwe Resilience Building Fund Programme is implemented jointly with the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development with donor resources, with support from Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare, Ministry of Local Government and Public Works Department of Civil Protection Unit and the Food and Nutrition Council,” said Mrs Sithole.
Mrs Sithole said the project was aimed at addressing the needs of the people so that they could be able to overcome stress and shocks that were a result of climate change.
“The project couldn’t be timelier as it addresses the needs of the people of Zimbabwe by building their capacities to prepare for and respond to the ever increasing shocks and stresses caused by climate change.
“In the past two seasons we are all aware that the nation experienced erratic rains in the 2014/2015 agricultural season and a severe El Nino induced drought in the season ended. This resulted in the reduced ability of communities to realise adequate food production and it is programmes such as these that will address such challenges going forward,” said Mrs Sithole.
She said the project would highlight various activities and would be implemented by the Welthungerhilfe led by Consortium Comprising Community Technology Development Organisation and other institutions.
“As government and development partners we commit to assist those disadvantaged communities as a mechanism of improving their livelihood. I trust that all the stakeholders in Umguza appreciate the importance of this project in ensuring their well-being in the long term,” she said.
Speaking at the same function one of the project leaders, Miss Kudzai Nyengerai said the programme was aimed at unburdening different communities from the poverty induced by drought.
