Published by the government of Zimbabwe
8 August 2008
Harare — SMALL-SCALE farmers in Chitomborwizi feel left out by the farm mechanisation programme and have asked the Government to allocate them tractors and ox-drawn farming implements.
The farmers made the request during a meeting with the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and Urban Development, Cde Ignatius Chombo.
The meeting had been convened to strategise the development of Chitomborwizi and to mobilise for the completion of the electrification of Chitomborwizi farms, a project which was left midway by the late Dr Swithun Mombeshora when he was the local Member of the House of Assembly.
The farmers told Cde Chombo that delays in accessing farming inputs such as maize seed and fertilizers were hampering the development of the area.
They also felt that irrigation water in Biri Dam was going to waste as only 10 percent of the water was being used.
The farmers were also not happy with the disbursement of farming loans, which they said reached them way after the farming season was over.
Mr John Chiridzangoma said the Government should allocate ward-based tractors that should be hired by the farmers to till their land.
He said it was understandable that not everyone could access a tractor.
Some of the farmers felt the area was lagging behind in development because the rates they pay to council
were not being ploughed back into building roads and schools.
Others felt there was a lot of alcohol abuse by the youth, which rendered them incapable of tilling the land.
One of the farmers, Mr Vazhure, said it was surprising that they were being consulted on the development needs of their area.
"We wonder where all previous MPs got their information which they relayed to Cde Mugabe."
An interim Chitomborwizi Development Association headed by Reverend Abraham Makumbe was for- med.
Cde Chombo said the association should spearhead the development of the area and mobilise sons and daughters of the area to invest back home.
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