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Ashton Mutyavaviri

IN a move resonating with President Mnangagwa’s policy of inclusivity, Government yesterday launched the Fish for Pensioners Programme (FPP) in Harare, which is set to transform their livelihoods through income generation and improved access to nutritious food.

The programme is being rolled out under the Zimbabwe Pensioners Welfare Trust for Economic Development (ZPWTED).

Speaking on behalf of the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Harare Metropolitan province Charles Tavengwa, Finance, Administration and Human Resources director Mrs Margret Nyakudyara said Government had realised the importance of taking on board the needs of pensioners in socio-economic growth in line with the policy of inclusivity.

She said the programme would see an improvement in the lives of pensioners through the generation of income and improving access to nutritious food for the participating families and the surrounding communities.

ZPWTED is a registered trust with the mandate to improve the welfare of pensioners by economically empowering them through the provision of Government and private sector initiated programmes and projects.

It is working with the Fisheries and Aquaculture Resources Department (FARD) to carry out training sessions for pensioners across the country

Fisheries and Aquaculture Resources Department (FARD) director Mr Milton Makumbe said the department had realised that pensioners were the missing component in the Presidential Community Fisheries Programme.

“We have fish for schools, village business units, youth component, Fish for She targeting women but forgetting the pensioners. We are launching and supporting the pensioners whom they trained at Henderson and offer them certificates today,” Mr Makumbe said yesterday.

He described the move to include pensioners in the Presidential Community Fisheries Programme as ideal given that climate change continues to affect the agriculture sector.

At least 32 pensioners received their certificates during the launch. The department is targeting to train 2 000 pensioners across the country, he added.

Meanwhile, ZPWTED chairperson Mr Rey Chagonda said the trust was also rolling out other projects like poultry production and was planning to start piggeries and beekeeping in every district.

“We are working with every Government department. We want to empower pensioners and make sure that they are driven by the same mantra of leaving no one behind,” he said.

He urged all pensioners, war veterans and widows to join ZPTED for them to benefit from the projects being rolled across the country.