By Margaret Kamba
Midlands Province's Minister of Provincial Affairs and Devolution Cde Owen Ncube says His Excellency President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa has prioritized food and nutrition security through the National Development Strategy 1 initiative.
He sais this when speaking during a donating of goods under the Presidential scheme to old peoples homes, prisons, hospitals and orphanages.
"It is my pleasure and honour to handover the generous donations made by His Excellency ,the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Comrade Dr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa to Midlands Province. I am indeed grateful to stand before you as you all witness this heart -warming gesture of love and charity," Cde Ncube said.
"His Excellency has remembered our Prisons, Old People's Homes, Orphanages and Hospitals in the Midlands Province confirming the mantra of leaving no one and no place behind.These donations will benefit to all deserving institutions in the eight (8) administrative districts in the Province.
"The National Development Strategy NDS1 prioritises Food and Nutrition Security to eliminate extreme poverty though relief measures such as the one we are witnessing today as well as long term programmes already underway.
"President E.D Mnangagwa has insisted that no one should die of hunger in our nation.In this regard, I would like to commend the outstanding work of strengthening our Social Safety Nets being done by the Department of Social Development and other Development Partners."
Cde Ncube added that "the focus of the Second Republic is to ensure food self-sufficiency and security through Vision 2030 accelerator models. I will be launching our climate proof Pfumvudza/Intwasa Programme across the Province beginining next week."
He added that "other equally important programmes include the Presidential Borehole Drilling Programme and its subsequent agriculture business units based on nutirtion gardens.The rehabilitation and revitalization of irrigation schemes with typical examples like Exchange, Biri, Hamamavhaire and Mtange irrigation schemes."
He applauded the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services for working tirelessly to ensure food sustenance and also to contribute to the Nation's Food and Nutrition Security through growing of cereals as well as establishment of nutritional gardens in all Prison Institutions across the Province.These include the rehabilitation of the irrigation scheme at Conemara Open Prison among others.
"As we celebrate these achievements, it is also important for me to also acknowledge the complementary philanthropic work being done by Her Excellency, The First Lady of the Republic of Zimbabwe ,Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa whom he said is winning regional and international accolades and recognition in New York on the sidelines of the 78th United Nations General Assembly.
"Our First Lady continues to reach out to vulnerable groups with life changing interventions in areas that include food security, health as well as education.We are very grateful for her work and we will ensure that her interventions will be supported."
The donations included 79.6 tonnes of mealie meal, 25 tonnes of rice and 1 785 cases of cooking oil.