The Upper Manyame Sub-Catchment Council (UMSCC) recently hosted Honourable Minister Mrs. Marian Chombo for a landmark tour of the Sunnyside Kushinga Village Business Unit (VBU) in Zvimba East, a shining example of Zimbabwe’s rural transformation agenda. The visit demonstrated how coordinated efforts between government departments, traditional leadership and local communities are breathing life into the Presidential vision of achieving sustainable, village level commercial agriculture.
VBUs are a key component of the Presidential Rural Development Programme, which aims to establish 35,000 village-based enterprises across the country. These units are designed to empower rural communities through irrigation supported nutrition gardens, fishpond and access to modern farming inputs helping to build food security, income and local economies. Minister Chombo was accompanied by a high powered delegation that included senior officials from the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, AGRITEX, the Departments of Mechanisation and Irrigation, the Agricultural Marketing Authority (AMA), Agricultural Finance Corporation (AFC), Grain Marketing Board (GMB), Agricultural and Rural Development Authority (ARDA), Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) and the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP). Also present were Honourable Mr. Kudakwashe Manhanzva, Zvimba Rural District Council CEO Mr. Chiwira, Permanent Secretary Mr. Jaji, local councillors, war veterans, ruling party members and a strong turnout of farmers from surrounding wards all showing united support for the project.
At the heart of the Sunnyside Kushinga Project is Ms. Fungisai Girly Taodzera, the Chairlady, whose leadership has mobilised the local community and kept the vision alive. Under her guidance, the project has grown into a model for grassroots resilience, economic participation and sustainable land use.
UMSCC’s contribution has been pivotal. The Council funded the installation of a solar powered borehole system complete with storage tanks, securing a reliable water source for irrigation and household use. It also financed the fencing of the garden to protect crops and supported the construction of a fishpond as a means of income generation and improved nutrition. Through a partnership with AGRITEX, seeds were supplied to kickstart crop production, giving the garden a solid foundation.
During the tour, Minister Chombo applauded the level of coordination among stakeholders and hailed the project as a blueprint for rural development. She urged other districts to draw inspiration from Kushinga’s achievements as this project aims to be a number one project in Zimbabwe and reaffirmed government’s commitment to empowering rural communities through inclusive development models. The visit was more than ceremonial, it was a validation of the hard work, innovation and partnerships driving rural change on the ground. As VBUs continue to take shape across Zimbabwe, Sunnyside Kushinga stands as a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when local action meets national vision.
UMSCC remains committed to advancing water security, food production and sustainable livelihoods throughout the catchment and beyond ensuring no village is left behind in the journey toward Vision 2030.