By Evans Dakwa
The Zhovhe fisheries project in the Matabeleland South district of Beitbridge, is one good example of the effectiveness of Public Private Partnerships (PPP) if implemented to the latter and spirit. Rooted in the rural development 8.0 model of the Ministry of Land, Agricultural, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development (MLAFWRD), the venture is in sync with the Second Republics quest to uplift rural livelihoods in all forms including food and nutrition security through an agricultural development-rural industrialisation- rural development towards vision 2030.
As the Special Advisor to the President on Monitoring Implementation of Government Programmes and Projects, Dr Joram Gumbo, descended on the site of the ambitious undertaking, he could not help but marvel at the work being done at the breeding site that is aiming to feed fingerlings into the Presidential Fisheries Program and supply the Matabeleland region, Masvingo and Midlands provinces.
“I am happy with the project I have seen here, it is a scheme in a rural area which is uplifting the lives of our people. It is part of the rural industrialisation agenda creating employment, enabling crop and livestock in a hot region five, thus fulfilling the presidential call of leaving no place and no one behind,” said Dr Gumbo
“I also loved the unity of purpose displayed by the people of this area working with a private organisation in a joint venture, the project is ensuring transfer of knowledge which is also important. What one would want to see is that, they are encouraged and assisted because they have challenges of the ZESA and water tariffs which I think they should be assisted because if they become too heavy for them the business will collapse,” he added.
Accompanying Dr Gumbo to the project site was the Matabeleland South Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Honourable Evelyn Ndlovu who expressed satisfaction with the work being undertaken, urging small holder farmers to take advantage and start fish farming.
“We would like to encourage our people especially those small holder farmers to embark on fisheries as these improve nutrition and create jobs. In a farm where you have less water, you can embark on such a project with a borehole, we have seen it work in other provinces and I am sure it can work in our province,” she said.
Zhovhe fisheries project is a fingerling production joint venture between Top pick Investments with a 75% stake, ARDAS Matabeleland South province with 15% and ARDAS head office coming in with a 10% stake.