Tsitsi Bvumburai

The air buzzed with excitement as community members, local leaders, and stakeholders gathered under the warm sun in Ward 13.

The reason for the celebration is Takunda CARE which was officially handing over two transformative projects: the Budiriro and Kugutakushanda Village Business Units.

Each unit featured a large horticulture garden, neatly fenced and segmented, with the heart of the operation being a solar-powered borehole.

This technology, so vital in the arid Chivi landscape, will provide a constant, clean water supply for irrigation, freeing the community from the arduous search for water that has long defined dry seasons.

Read More: US-funded solar irrigation project opens in Chivi

This achievement was a testament to transformative partnerships as Takunda Care worked alongside AGRITEX, ARDA, and ZINWA to prepare the land, but the real work was done shoulder-to-shoulder with the community.

Residents cleared the land, built fences, and established vegetable beds, taking ownership of their new future. Their commitment now extends to managing village savings, loan associations, and women’s groups, all designed to ensure the projects’ longevity.

The event drew stakeholder support, with Chivi North MP Godfrey Mukungunugwa, Ward 13 Councillor Daviton Takawira, and Ward 9 Councillor Dennis Marufu being all in attendance.

MP Mukungunugwa spoke passionately about the projects saying they demonstrated government commitment to beneficial partnerships with development partners.

“This is a clear demonstration of our commitment to rural empowerment which resonates with Vision 2030 whose aim is to ensure that no one and no place is left behind,” he said.

Emily Simango, a member of the Kugutakushanda unit said they were prepared to work hard and make the project thrive.

“We are ready to be the main supplier of potatoes and other vegetables in Chivi North. We hope to expand the business unit to accommodate more farmers from our community,” said Simango.

Takunda CARE’s Yasser Nhapata encouraged the community to embrace the projects fully. “Work closely with government experts to make these projects successful and sustainable. “They are yours now—for today and for generations to come,” said Nhapata.

The projects embody the goals of Zimbabwe’s rural development framework and Vision 2030, serving as a beacon of what can be achieved when innovation, integration, and community resilience work together to build a thriving, self-sufficient future.