Zimpapers Logo

Manicaland Bureau
ADMINISTRATIVE districts in Manicaland should identify pieces of land for the construction of vocational training centres, as funds for the programme have been set aside in the National Budget.

Minister of Finance and Economic Development Cde Patrick Chinamasa said each district should have a vocational training institute, adding that rural district councils should identify pieces of land to set up the centres.

“In our National Budget for 2018, we said each administrative district must have a vocational training centre. What is needed is the land. These vocational centres cannot be built in the air. We are saying to the district councils, go and identify the pieces of land in each respective district so that we do not have money which is not being put to use,” he said.

“What we want is to have youths trained in various disciplines and acquire skills that will help them in income-generating projects.”

Minister Chinamasa said his ministry had also budgeted for the development of irrigation schemes in each district. He said the money was available.

“In our 2018 National Budget, we agreed that we are going to develop 200 hectares of irrigation in each administrative district for the next 10 years,” he said.

“So, please engage those from the Ministry of Agriculture so that it is done every year. The money is there and what is needed is action on the ground.”

Minister Chinamasa said that funds had been availed for the completion of work at Marowanyati Dam in Buhera. He said the dam should be completed by end of this year. Government has set aside about $8,5 million towards the construction of the dam.