Former employees of Vanad Mine in Mutorashanga, the majority who are elderly and of foreign extraction want the Government to assist them with farming land. The community met its Member of the House of Assembly who is also the Minister of Local

Government, Rural and Urban Development Ignatius Chombo last Thursday.

Minister Chombo assured the community at Vanad that it will be allocated farming land near the mine compound where they live.

He also promised to continue funding women and youth projects.

He gave the women and youth vegetable seed to start market gardening projects. He said the market gardeners would be assisted to sell their produce.

Operations of Vanad Mine took a down turn when the global market for chrome fell.

Many of the employees became redundant while co-operatives took over the mining activities. Those who got employed by the co-operatives are poorly paid.

He tasked the Zvimba North Development Association to develop water and sanitation projects at the mine after complaints that existing facilities were either inadequate or had become dysfunctional.

Minister Chombo unveiled a food aid scheme for the community.

The people were given maize for maize-meal, which they are expected to repay when they harvest next season.

At least two tonnes of maize were handed out on Thursday with more expected as successful new farmers in the area buy into the project.

The elderly were given blankets while women and children received clothing items.