By Chantelle Muzanenhamo
Beitbridge District in Matabeleland South is quietly undergoing a rural economic revival one village at a time through the rollout of Village Business Units (VBUs), a model turning subsistence farming into thriving commercial enterprises.
During a provincial media tour yesterday, Deputy Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Hon Dr Omphile Marupi, visited Tshanswilikiti Garden and Zwivhuya VBU in Ward 12, praising the projects as engines of sustainable livelihoods and youth empowerment.
“These projects are not only about agriculture; they’re about giving rural communities, especially our young people, a real chance to grow, stay productive, and build their own futures,” said Dr Marupi, urging youth to take ownership and see the VBUs as alternatives to migration or substance abuse.
A Village Business Unit refers to a community-based, commercially run enterprise established in rural areas to generate income and improve livelihoods through agricultural activities such as horticulture, often supported by irrigation systems and greenhouses.
These units provide a structured model for transforming subsistence farming into profitable ventures that benefit entire communities.
The Deputy Minister toured Tshanswilikiti Garden and Zwivhuya VBU in Ward 12, two of four functional VBUs in the area. The projects, established under the Presidential Water Availing System, are part of a broader government initiative to install 55 VBUs across Beitbridge. Each unit is powered by a solarized borehole system with a storage tank, ensuring reliable access to water for irrigation.
Local families are already seeing tangible benefits.
At Tshanswilikiti Garden, villagers are growing crops for both household consumption and market resale, directly improving food security and income.
“Before this garden, we relied only on seasonal rains and sometimes had nothing to harvest. Now, with access to water and tools, I can grow vegetables all year round and sell them at the local market,” said, a local beneficiary.
Acting Chief Executive Officer of Beitbridge RDC, Mr Peter Ncube, explained the long-term vision behind the projects.
“Each VBU covers a hectare of land and is designed to benefit the entire village. It’s a model of inclusive development where no one is left behind,” he said.
The initiative has received praise from Councillor Oscar Chiromo, Chairperson of Beitbridge RDC, who emphasized its alignment with Zimbabwe’s national Vision 2030 goal of becoming an upper-middle-income economy.
“This is how rural communities begin to thrive. These projects empower people with land, water, and resources to generate income and grow together. It’s a major step forward,” said Cllr Chiromo.
Importantly, Hon Dr Marupi urged the youth to take ownership of these projects, positioning them as powerful tools in the fight against drug and substance abuse.
“We must offer young people an alternative something real, something they can build. These gardens are more than just food sources; they’re lifelines. They reduce the need for our youth to migrate in search of jobs across borders,” he said.
As Beitbridge pushes forward with the full rollout of the VBU model, it offers a blueprint for how rural development driven by innovation, water security, and community engagement can rebuild local economies and offer lasting hope for future generations.