Close to 22000 villagers are set to benefit from the Greenfield Programmes-Livestock projects which were officially launched at Materera Secondary school in Chihota yesterday.
Speaking during the official launch of the Materera chicken and Gukuta piggery projects, World Vision Board chair, Stella Dongo applauded the community’s involvement in the projects.
“The most striking aspect about these projects is the involvement of the community which is contributing in various ways to the projects in through locally available resources such as bricks, gravel, stones, water, labor and security and this highlight commitment.
“The projects are targeting 21755 people in which 10314 are male while 11441 female people which translates to approximately 3625 households when using 6 as the average family size,” she said
She also urged Chihota villagers to safeguard the projects so that they benefit future generations.
“I would like to strongly implore the Chihota community to safe guard these projects, they should protect their efforts so that they benefit the future generations,” said Dongo
Chihota residents who spoke to 263chat welcomed the initiative saying that the projects will help reduce the skyrocketing levels of unemployment that has hard hit the area and the nation at large.
“This will certainly bring a change to us and our community because a source of employment has been created,” said a villager who identified herself as Madziva.
Another villager, Honest Chibango said they will work tirelessly to make the projects a success.
“We will work together towards sustaining these projects and I believe our children will benefit a lot,” said Chibango.
Weston Mlambo, a form 4 student at Materera Secondary school, echoed the above sentiments when he said the chicken project which is being implemented at his school is a blessing.
“ We are happy especially that one of the projects is being implemented at our school and i would like to thank all those who made this project a success ,” he said.
World Vision National director, Mr. Edward Brown also thanked those who contributed towards the projects.
“As World Vision Zimbabwe we are very delighted to partner with Chihota community through the Greenfields programme in which various stakeholders have come together to implement sustainable economic development project that enhance the livelihood of people and especially of children,” said Brown
He also thanked ministry of education for allocating space for the implementation of the project.
“My gratitude also goes to the ministry of education through the schools for providing space for projects, paint for steel trusses, security and electricity generator power for all the metal fabrication works in the implementation of the projects,” added Brown
Irvine’s donated steel trusses worth US$ 3125 towards the projects, and first batch of chicks worth US$2 500, which are expected to generate US$52 500 per year.
