The Sunday News
Leonard Ncube in Victoria Falls
CHIVI South National Assembly member Cde Killer Zivhu has launched a goat project targeting disadvantaged families in rural districts countrywide, as he encouraged newly elected Members of Parliament to adopt a nationalist approach to development.
Chipinge, Chivi, Hwange and Plumtree are the pioneering areas where the Killer Zivhu Foundation will implement a number of projects besides goat farming to empower disadvantaged villagers.
To set the ball rolling, Cde Zivhu, who is the outgoing president for the Association of Rural District Councils (ARDC) launched the Hwange chapter of the project at Jabulani Village outside Victoria Falls yesterday.
Cde Zivhu said the village near Victoria Falls International Airport will get 1 000 goats, with each homestead getting five goats as seed capital under the project. One of the beneficiaries, a disadvantaged 80-year-old widow Mrs Anna Ngwenya at whose homestead the launch was held in Jabulani Village, almost shed tears as she received money worth five goats.
The woman could not hide her joy when she also received an assortment of groceries which Cde Zivhu said she will receive on a monthly basis.
Mrs Ngwenya, who lives with her seven-year-old great-grandson in a single dilapidated hut, with hardly any blanket or decent clothes, could not believe it when Cde Zivhu pledged to build her a three-roomed house and a kitchen hut.
All the developments which will cost about $15 000 will be completed in November, said Cde Zivhu.
“I don’t even know what to say. We have nothing to eat and survive on begging from people. As you arrived my great-grandson was crying of hunger and I can’t believe that today we are going to eat isitshwala,” said Mrs Ngwenya.
Speaking to the villagers 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 the Cross Border Traders’ Association and this goat project will also help many of you.
“What we are doing are surprise visits to different communities to assess the situation. We have been duly elected as MPs and now going to meet people. Our people are suffering as they can’t afford decent lives and as MPs let’s not only look at our constituencies but be nationalists. We have to empower our people regardless of where they live.”
He said the goat project will be implemented in Hwange West, Chipinge, Plumtree and Chivi where it has already started.
Cde Zivhu said the idea behind the project was to empower citizens with self sustaining projects regardless of their location.
“We are going to build a three-roomed house and kitchen hut for her and all work is going to start soon. We will be here in November to hand over the house.
“In terms of the goat project, you will get five goats each and we expect that after five years you will have managed to buy cattle and sent your children to boarding schools out of this,” he said.
Cde Zivhu said the foundation will also implement a women’s club where each homestead will have a model kitchen hut built for them to empower women.
He said the foundation will work with 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.
Jabulani village head Mr Gama Siwela said the whole community was grateful for the gesture, adding that there are several disadvantaged people who struggle to get a decent meal in his area.
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