Zim Agriculture Minister Invites Soldiers To Work On Farms
15/02/2011 13:05:00
Harare, February 15, 2011 – Zimbabwe’s Agriculture Minister, Joseph Made on
Monday said the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) must be involved in providing
workforce in the farms across the country due to labour shortage because of
poor working conditions and remuneration.
Zimbabwe’s agriculture sector which used to be one of the best on the
continent has been facing major challenges after President Robert Mugabe’s
government violently took over white owned farms in 2000 to resettle
landless blacks. The move reduced agriculture production while equipment was
dismantled in various farms. Maintanance in most farms remain poor as some
farms are now derelict.
Made appealed to the army which boasts of various work expertise, to start
sending their engineering experts to help improve infrastructure
rehabilitation.
“We have undergone a successful land reform but we still need to work with
various partners and the defence forces are an important partner.
Agricultural mechanization development is a process that cannot be dealt
with in isolation. We cannot afford to sit and not engage the various
institutions that include the army,” Made said after addressing soldiers at
the Zimbabwe army staff college.
“The exodus of skilled and experienced staff has not spared the agricultural
machinery and irrigation sector with most leading public institutions in the
sector operating without human resources.Right now we are undertaking a
massive irrigation programme and rehabilitating road infrastructure in rural
areas particularly in newly resettled areas.The army has qualified engineers
with capacity to do construction work rapidly.”