Heather Charema Mash West Correspondent
The Association of Zimbabweans Living in the Republic of South Africa (AZLRSA) has partnered local institutions to assist communities enhance their entrepreneurship and capacity building skills.

AZLRSA is heeding President Mnangagwa’s call for Zimbabweans in the Diaspora to invest back home and contribute to the economic development of the country.

In one of the programmes, AZLRSA has partnered the Landmark Institute of Social Work for entrepreneurship and capacity building training workshops on organic agriculture in Chegutu and Norton.

The programme has so far benefitted more than 400 farmers who have been trained in beekeeping, animmal husbandry, mushroom production and horticulture.

After training, the farmers will get financial and technical assistance.

Speaking at one of the workshops in Norton last week, AZLRSA administration and projects director Mr John Chawira said the association was keen to participate in mining, agriculture, manufacturing and tourism sectors in Zimbabwe.

“As an association, we want to complement the Government’s efforts to develop the country’s economy. The economic development of our country is essential to all of us and it is our duty to participate in its development,” he said.

“Our association would like to participate in the mainstream economy through involvement in major sectors such as agriculture, mining, manufacturing and tourism.”

He said the mantra “Zimbabwe is Open for Business” called for more entrepreneurs in the country.

“For a business, no matter how small or big, it needs to be run professionally for it to be sustainable and lucrative, therefore we have taken the initiative following the Government’s call to invest back home,” Mr Chawira said.

Zimbabweans, he said, should understand the qualities needed for success while filling the gap in micro, medium and smallholder projects.

“There is need for Zimbabweans to mature, adapt to the correct frame of mind and qualities that are needed for success.

“It is in this vein that the training is imperative for all the partners. While Government is focusing on the mega projects, there is a gap in the survival, micro, small, medium and related projects, which usually have the largest impact on ideas and employment creation,” he said.

He said Zimbabwe needed soft infrastructure where those in the Diaspora can now transfer back home their acquired skills by forging mutually beneficial partnerships with those on the ground.

Landmark Institute of Social Work training director Mr Lloyd Humure said the partnership between the association and his institution would help bring quality production.

“We have a project of building the capacity of farmers through participatory training. We are implementing the project in Chegutu district where we have so far trained more than 400 farmers.

“We partnered the AZLRSA so that while we are doing the technical aspect, they also bring in the entrepreneurial aspect, so that people take farming as a business,” Mr Humure said.

A number of agricultural associations and cooperatives have been formed in Chegutu in line with the capacity building.