By Zivaishe Dudzo 

Speaking on issues of development in Zimbabwe at the Inauguration ceremony in Harare, President Mnangagwa said the construction of dams, irrigation development and borehole drilling was going to protect the agriculture sector from climate change.

“The construction of dams, accelerated irrigation development, coupled with the on-going borehole drilling programme, in every village and school, is set to insulate our agriculture sector from climate change induced weather fluctuations. Vulnerable districts and areas are now the critical focus,” said the President.

President Mnangagwa also said development of the rural areas was going to be effected in full force.

“Rural Development will be implemented at full scale through robust rural agriculture industrialisation models. This will result in our 35,000 villages country-wide, having productive agro-based companies, owned and run by the benefiting communities. The programme will see a multi-fold increase in rural incomes and sustainable livelihoods. 

Concurrent with this thrust is the setting up of rural industries and systems designed to process, value add, beneficiate as well as export agricultural produce. Untapped opportunities exist for more of our people to penetrate the global markets and value chains through quality ‘Made in Zimbabwe’ goods and products,” He said.

The President also said the realisation of the agriculture sector had ripple effects on agro-based manufacturing sector and the industrial base which should work together to prosper.

“The success of our agriculture sector has ripple effects to our agro-based manufacturing sector and industrial base. The factories that we all desire can only succeed if there is the requisite through-put from agriculture and mining, among other sectors. Therefore, I call upon us to respect each other as a united people, no matter where we live or our economic activities,” said the President.