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Daniel Chigunwe Mash Central Correspondent
Villagers in the Dande Valley are calling on their new National Assembly members to devote more energy looking for markets for their farm produce.

People in areas like Muzarabani, Mahuwe and Mbire rely heavily on the trading of their livestock and crops for survival.

In an interview on the villagers’ expectations, a farmer from Mazonde Village, Mr Misheck Marezva, said development prospects in these areas were being impaired by lack of access to ready markets.

“Muzarabani, which is more than 250km from Mbire relies on cotton farming,” he said.

“Development in this place can only be necessitated by improving the buying price of cotton.

“People here also rely on trading goats, cattle and chicken. However, it would be easier and profitable if there are ready buyers willing to come and buy from here. Farmers face numerous challenges in trying to use road transport to get to markets as far away as Harare.”

There are also calls for Government to prioritise road rehabilitation and school development in these areas.

“We are calling for legislators to priorities education and roads rehabilitation which will definitely assist in scaling up development which has been staggering due to low farming production,” said Mr Marezva.

Another villager from Mahuwe, Mr Tawanda Gono, called for the establishment of more Vocational Training Centres to empower youths with necessary skills for job creation.

“The majority of youths are idle and we call on Government to establish more VTCs that will equip them with skills needed for self-sustainability,” he said.

“Also of importance is to inculcate the sense of belonging in the youths by including them in developmental projects.”

Mbire Ward youth officer Mr Fresher Muwodza also called for the construction of more schools as well as improving network challenges in the area.

“We want to see more schools being constructed, especially in areas like Nyambira, where pupils walk about 20 kilometres and cross the hazardous Hunyani River during the rainy season,” he said.