Deputy Commerce Minister for Administration, Associate Professor Lavela B. Kortimai, has applauded the development inventiveness of a local women-dominated group in Lofa County and called on the Liberian Government and development partners to support their initiative.

The group, Zevelekeezu (meaning 'Unity Club' in the Lorma vernacular), has up to 1, 500 members spread across three of the six districts of Lofa County as well as in Monrovia.

The group which began as a mere social club just before the outbreak of the civil war in 1989 has matured into a socio-economic and development oriented organization, Minister Kortimai told The Informer after the group paid a courtesy call on Vice President Joseph Boakai last Thursday (August 12) and presented a communication of commendation for President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

Zevelekeezu has succeeded in acquiring a rice mill and currently has three kitchens full of unclean rice, seeking buyers in order to undertake development programs in the county.

The Deputy Commerce Minister said the group was able to generate up to L$350,000 from its activities, bought a rice mill and opened an account with Ecobank to safe money raised for development initiatives.

"These are the things and kinds of groups we need to support in this new Liberia," Minister Kortimai said. "I think their effort needs to be supported by government in whatever way we can provide support to them. It may be through training...or financial support."

Zevelekeezu started in Konia Town, Lofa, in 1989, but went dormant during the country's more than 14 years of war and devastation.

It was given a rebirth few years ago, with new dimension: economic empowerment and development. The group currently has string bases in Zorzor, Vionjama and Salayea Districts.

Initially, members of the group taxed each others for social activities such as dancing and cultural performances across towns, officials said.

They later added development flavor to these activities where they decided undertaking projects such as farming in a particular town, according to gathered information.

When they gather in a town, the ask residents what development project they want to undertake, and they all work towards the implementation of such project.

"Today, they have desisted from tasking each others. Instead, they now undertake agriculture projects and used proceeds generated to undertake other development projects..." Minister Kortimai said.

"Their activities have generated interest from politicians who want to use them as a political stronghold ahead of the 2011 general and presidential elections," the Commerce official said.

"But as for me, I look at it from a different perspective, from the economic side. It's a new and interesting thing: native people coming together on their own volition, raising funds for their own social wellbeing and development purpose," the University of Liberia (UL) lecturer asserted.

Minister Kortimai said he thinks the initiative of Zevelekeezu "is an idea we as government should support because it hastens development which the country is in dire need of."

"If government, if we community members can engage in activities like these," the Deputy Minister averred, "it will enhance development in the country."

At Vice President Boakai's residence, members of the group staged a cultural performance which last up to midnight.

The Vice President declared his membership to the group and promised that their rice would be purchased to enable them undertake other projects.

The Vice President said the production of rice by the group indicates that Lofa was on its way back to reclaiming its postwar title as the 'bread basket' of Liberia.

He said in order the win back the past glory all lofans need to work hard, and assured officials of Zevelekeezu that the Ministry of Agriculture would work with the on the purchase of their rice.