Government has commended Masvingo Development Trust (MDT) for venturing into commercial winter maize production in the Lowveld after more than 1 300 tonnes of maize were produced under the initiative this year. The maize worth $500 000 was produced at Triangle estates with Government support through the Command Agriculture Programme.

Speaking at the handover of the grain to MDT here recently, Masvingo Provincial Affairs Minister Senator Josaya Hungwe said under the new dispensation, Government was in support of partnerships that reduce unemployment and poverty.

“This is one good example of a step at which Masvingo Province is moving towards food self-sufficiency,” he said. “This is a testimony to show you that unity and team work yields favourable results.

“President Mnangagwa is worried about how companies must re-open; our young people must get employed. He is not sleeping, thinking about how people can derive maximum benefits from the resources which surround them. That is why he is talking about devolution.”

Senator Hungwe said the province should be exemplary and formulate self-sustenance programmes that will see Masvingo exporting food and other goods.

“We have what it takes to be self-sufficient,” he said. “We have arguably the biggest herd of cattle in the country. We have Tugwi-Mukosi Dam which will irrigate 25 000 hectares, we have flat land which is favourable for irrigation and we have minerals such as coal, diamonds, gold which can see us improve our economic status if explored properly.

“I salute the Masvingo Development Trust for leading the way; you must not stop on the maize project, go into mining, tourism, construction, agriculture and undertake projects that improve the lives of our people. This is a new dispensation, a dispensation of improving our people’s lives.”

In his address at the same event, MDT chair and Zanu-PF Politburo member Cde Lovemore Matuke said revenue generated from the winter maize venture would be channelled towards purchase of a heavy-duty borehole drilling rig that would address the pressing water challenges faced by the province.

“Minister (Sen Hungwe), from this winter maize project, which is your brain child, we produced a total of 1 394.8 tonnes of maize grown on 317ha of irrigated land which Tongaat Hulett availed to us,” he said.

“This time we are set to deliver our maize to GMB where we expect to get over $500 000. We have to pay back around $215 000 for the maize seed, herbicides, fertiliser and diesel, while Tongaat has to be paid back money for labour costs, machinery, crop management and tillage services which they provided.”

Cde Matuke said the borehole drilling rig to be purchased from the winter maize proceeds would make it easier to open more small-scale irrigation schemes across the province.

“All the profits that we realised from this project will not be shared amongst ourselves,” he said. “We have asked Tongaat Hulett to purchase a heavy duty borehole drilling rig that would be used in the province to address the pressing problem of shortage of clean and safe drinking water.’’

Tongaat Hullet managing director Mr Sydney Mtsambiwa said his company was geared to partner the province to improve people’s livelihoods.