MANICALAND, BUHERA | Village Business Units (VBUs) designed to boost rural economies and modernization are now operating at full capacity, with locals selling their irrigation produce at competitive rates.
Produce from more than 100 irrigation projects in Buhera includes fresh maize, cabbages, carrots, tomatoes, onions, and rape, among other items.
The VBUs are being managed commercially to attract working capital, cover recurring costs, and address the challenges posed by the El Niño drought that has affected Zimbabwe and other Southern African countries.
Prevail Group International, responsible for drilling boreholes in remote and marginalized areas across the country, is leading the initiative.
Dr. Paul Tungwarara, the Presidential Special Advisor and chairman of Prevail Group International, praised President Emmerson Mnangagwa for supporting this national project that empowers villagers nationwide.
He expressed gratitude for the provision of water and nutritional gardens in Buhera, noting that nearly 100 village business units have been established in the district.
Dr. Tungwarara highlighted that villagers are already harvesting a variety of crops, including maize, tomatoes, onions, and vegetables. He emphasized that the program not only helps combat hunger but also serves as a significant economic empowerment tool.
The initiative has also created jobs, with 60 direct positions and numerous additional opportunities in each province. Dr. Tungwarara commended President Mnangagwa for reaching even the most remote areas, ensuring comprehensive coverage.
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He mentioned that 38 business units have been set up, with plans to reach 50 before independence. Efforts are ongoing not just in Buhera but across the country, including in Gutu, Plumtree, and Wedza.
Prevail Group International, with a skilled team, employs both skilled and semi-skilled workers across all 10 provinces, each employing over 50 people. The VBUs also provide downstream benefits, with the borehole drilling program creating more than 500 jobs nationwide.
In November last year, the cabinet directed the establishment of 10,000 business units as part of the presidential borehole drilling initiative to economically empower marginalized communities.
Beneficiaries in Buhera district have found the VBUs to be lucrative, generating income and local employment that empowers villagers economically.
Isaac Gandi, the village head of Buhera Gandi in ward 19, praised the VBUs as a transformative initiative that addresses drought and water shortages while shifting the local economy from subsistence to commercial agriculture.
Gandi noted that local communities are now producing surplus food that reaches local markets and beyond, thanks to the VBUs.
Gertrude Mapanzure, a local from Mbizi village, commended the presidential borehole scheme for financially empowering women, allowing them to become key contributors to their families’ incomes, challenging traditional gender norms.
Mapanzure expressed her appreciation for the initiative, which has elevated women’s roles in the community, enabling them to support their families financially and achieve greater economic independence.
The Dzenga VBUs currently support over 100 registered beneficiaries as part of the presidential irrigation scheme, with many becoming commercial farmers.
