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By Elvis Dumba
The legislator for Zvimba North Constituency and Local Government Deputy Minister Marian Chombo who was recently noticed by a local think-tank as the most active legislator for both government and community participation is taking economic community empowerment projects to women and youths in the area.
Chombo has established a fish farming project for young people at Arda Farm where at least over a hundred youths say they now have employment in the area – a move which will eventually help in decreasing cases of drug and substance abuse.
“We are grateful for the fish farming projects we got from our MP as you can see there is not much economic activity that fully engages young people the whole year except seasonal farming activities and this, in turn, results in young people turning to vices such as drug abuse. With this project which is fast spreading in our community, we are economically empowered and we now have employment,” a beneficiary of the fish farming project said during a tour of the initiatives.
In Mutorashanga, Hon Chombo helped to set up a women’s internal savings club where through financial group savings, family budget burdens are minimized as most women are able to procure kitchen and household utensils which are usually expensive to get as an individual.
Members of the group said the internal saving group has helped them in financial discipline.
“I now have a saving culture which has largely improved my family’s financial standing. I am also able to focus on other personal expenses knowing that my family’s basic needs are being met through this group which our MP set up through her financial seed that helped kick-start the project,” Sheila Kabira said.
During a visit to the group’s monthly meeting, Hon Chombo helped the women in the sharing of sets of pots, and blankets. She also donated an assortment of food hampers to the elderly.
Hon Chombo said President Emmerson Mnangagwa has tasked every leader to ensure that no place or person is left behind in the economic development inclusion. She encouraged citizens to effectively use resources being availed to them for community and personal financial inclusion.
“These projects we are coming to you with are meant to empower you as an individual as well as a whole community. As the foot soldiers of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, we ensure that his vision that no one or place is left behind in empowerment programs is fulfilled. Let us support these initiatives and ensure they are successful as we continue to avail more resources until everyone benefits and is included in these empowerment projects,” she said.
The Marian Chombo Trust – a local humanitarian organization, said it will augment government programs by increasing and accelerating support for various projects and skills training.
Mike Madzore of the Marian Chombo Trust said they will empower women and youths with skills for running effective fish farming and pig projects.
“As Marian Chombo Trust, we are coming in to empower especially women and young people in ensuring that they have the requisite skills that allow them to effectively run various projects into viable sustainable businesses,” he said.