By Margaret Kamba
There is a wave of young crop that has literally seized the development agenda by its horns and are stopping at nothing to make sure they turn the pieces of land at their disposal into developed places.
Most of these young men and women are those who have either traveled abroad and seen a world of endless opportunities or those who have been possessed by the development spirit which saw the re-election of His Excellency President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa.
When you engage with each of these young men and women, it is this man's vision that each of them speaks as a source of inspiration.
What is surprising is that, there are many who are in Zimbabwe and see the development patterns but cannot see what it is, where it is going and how they can play their part in ushering Zimbabwe into a middle income society by the year 2030.
The tour of Mangwe District in Matabeleland South Province revealed a crop of young people who appreciate the government policies in place and find them as enabling tools to a broader agenda of economic transformation.
Kuzalunga Ncube Mabuza who was previously employed as a gardener in a South African farm, his mindset is turning his community in Ward 17 into a productive place.
His compound which boasts of an orchard and a horticultural array of crops is just but one of his many ideas.
"I was working in South Africa but I came back almost a year ago. When President Mnangagwa came to Jinjika to launch the project, I was there and I loved the project. I never believed that cabbages could be grown in this hot area but look at the field full of cabbages. These are just two months old. I copied what I saw at the President's launch and this is not the end. I do not want people to go hungry which is why I want to expand the place to provide food for the community," Cde Ncube Mabuza said.
"No matter where you are, take farming into consideration. If you have the land, use it to feed the nation."
Further down in Bango, Ward 11, Sobala Ncube of Simukwe Valley Projects, as though called by the same spirit, has also taken advantage of his proximity to Simukwe River to put a technologically sound green water pumping system to not only provide water for the community but to establish a green belt.
"I am happy when I see the mushrooming of irrigation schemes around the community because I have influenced this development. To me, it's about creating an industry. President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa through the National Development Strategy NDS1 speaks about the promotion of rural industrialisation and this is what we are working towards," Cde Ncube said.
"Makorokoro is an inspiration for us. Realizing the natural resources that we have, I thought to exploit our natural resources and create rural revenue while creating jobs."
With 22 employees, Ncube is already thinking of expanding his four hectares which if all things being equal should reach 100 hectares.
"I want us to produce tomato paste and soups and be able to dry our vegetables. We want to move to the second phase of production for continuity of supply," he said.
"One of the things I urge young people is to remain focused because our government is trying its best. What people do not realize is that for business to grow there must be enabling policies. For us, we have the human capital, the land, water and an enabling government policy. You will never realize what you can do until you have done it. So it's doable."
Minister of Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Matabeleland South Cde Evelyn Ndlovu says the Makorokoro Nutrition Garden in Jinjika Village, launched by His Excellency President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa has been an inspiration.
"President Mnangagwa spoke passionately about the Makororo irrigation scheme during his address in New York. He said he was transforming the rural areas and encouraged people to come and see the scheme," Cde Ndlovu said.
"It is this scheme that we are here to monitor. It is a rural empowerment project done. It is a first and all villages will have similar projects. It is creating jobs and providing food and nutrition security and we are very grateful to President Mnangagwa for it."
She added that "agriculture is the mainstay of the economy and with it you can never go wrong. As Resident Minister, I encourage other young people to identify land and we will give them the necessary support to defend the country through agriculture because even in a rural set up, you can do wonderful things."