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Farirai Machivenyika Senior Reporter

The attainment of the country’s independence on April 18, 1980 brought with it immense economic opportunities to the previously marginalised black majority, a Mashonaland Central based farmer said ahead of today’s 41st Independence Day celebrations.

Cde Prosper Muchenje of Amanda’s Farm Plot 3 thanked the Government for the various empowerment opportunities that had been brought about by the independence.

“It was unimaginable that an indigenous person like me would own a farm or run a company like I am doing but today we are doing those things thanks to the efforts of gallant sons and daughters who liberated this country.

“Therefore the independence we celebrate today reminds us of past, our present and our future. So today we are on our present where the Government has come up with various programmes to improve the livelihoods of our people,” he said.

Cde Muchenje called on all Zimbabweans to take advantage of the opportunities brought about by the independence to not only work for the improvement of their lives but also for the development of the country.

He commended Government for coming up with such programmes as the Transitional Stabilisation Programme, the National Development Strategy 1 and the Pfumvudza agricultural scheme as initiatives that had set the economy on a growth trajectory and boost agricultural productivity.

Cde Muchenje has a thriving maize crop on 45 hactares and is expecting a harvest 450 tonnes.