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Victor Maphosa

Mashonaland East Bureau

A village head in Murehwa, is one man who has taken Government objective of intensive rural industrialisation drive to heart and is working around the clock to contribute to the attainment of Vision 2030, as called by President Mnangagwa and the Second Republic.

A chartered accountant by profession and having pursued and explored the “accounts” field across the world after graduating from the University of Zimbabwe and other reputable institutions locally and internationally, and worked for various institutions around the world, Mr Mukure Nyahunzviheaded back home to venture into agricultural activities.

To him, the Government mantra “Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo” motivated him to think hard on putting his hands on the deck and start contributing to the food security of his family, and that of the nation at large.

Hailing from Ward 3 in Murehwa district, Mr Isaiah Mukure Nyahunzvi did not waste time after realising that working for his nation is top priority.

He bought a small herd of heifers and a bull from savings of his gainful employment.

In no time the heifers had calves and his herd started to grow.

Today, he is a proud communal farmer with over 100 cattle, in a short space of time.

As his herd swelled, the need for chemicals and supplementary food for the cattle also increased.

He then came up with an idea to make his own stock feed at his rural home.

Using his resources, he financed the construction of a milling house and bought a grinding mill where he manufactures his stock feed for the cattle.

To add to that, he started maize farming at his rural fields and some of the maize he got, is then used as part of the stock feed manufacturing process.

Most of the fields he grows maize in are rented pieces of land.

Mr Mukure Nyahunzvi has, without any doubt, answered to President Mnangagwa’s call for everyone to contribute in rebuilding Zimbabwe.

He is supporting the Second Republic’s rural industrialisation vision.

Already, he has employed nine people permanently for his project, bearing in mind that rural industrialisation also requires one to create employment for the people. 

“I do mixed farming here in my rural area,” said Mr Mukure. 

“I started this project in 2020 during the Covid-19 era when a lot of industries had closed down. We had less work to do so I just thought of doing these projects. 

“I started buying cows, fattening them for sale. From 2020 to date, I have more than 100 cattle, a mixed herd.

“Our aim is to do commercial livestock production. I am planning to do breeding on a large scale and that will be done. This is regardless of the land challenge we are facing here. The large herd that we have here requires more grazing land and that cannot be found in this area. 

“So this has led us to then now come up with an idea of making own supplementary feed for our cattle. So, on the piece of land left by my forefathers, I decided to do maize farming and part of the maize grain after harvest is used to make stock feed.” 

Mr Mukure Nyahunzvi has already constructed a huge building where stock feed is made.

As he highlighted earlier, he is into maize farming and this season, he put about 15 hectares the crop.

Last season, he even sent 62 tonnes of maize to the Grain Marketing Board, after a bumper harvest from rented fields.

“I am renting most of the land that I have put maize,” he said. “Currently, I have more than 15ha of maize and a bumper harvest is guaranteed. We have a good crop. We are utilising the small land that we have. Let me also tell you that I also applied for land from the Government and as we speak I am also on the waiting list.

“However, while I am waiting for the outcome of my application, I could not sit on my hands, that is why I am using this small piece of land to do agricultural activities and create employment for the people in my area. It does not mean having a small piece of land one cannot do wonders, that is why we are putting a lot of efforts here and to make a difference. 

“We want to ensure there is rural industrialisation in this area. I urge others to come on board and work hard on their piece of land in rural areas and assist Government’s objective of transforming rural livelihoods. I am creating employment here. I have nine permanent workers and during planting and harvesting period, we employ more than 20 casual workers. 

“My prayer is for my application for land to be considered favourably so that I can have more land for my projects. I will then be able to employ more people and do large scale farming for the nation. My aim is to contribute in the attainment of Vision 2030. Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo.”

Mr Mukure Nyahunzviurged other households in rural areas to utilise land, no matter how small it might be.

“Rural industrialisation begins at household level,” he said. “We are the people who should spearhead it and we should not rest until Government objectives are fulfilled. 

“Government starts at family level, so we are the Government. If I do projects that create employment, it is Government which has created that employment because we are the Government. 

“So, to everyone in the rural areas, let us not relax, let us work hard and create a beautiful Zimbabwe. Let us utilise land. Let us ensure food security for our nation. We must never go hungry yet we have land.”

It is said, behind every successful man, there is a woman full of brains.

Mrs Mukure Nyahunzvi, who is very supportive of the projects, said as a family, they understand the mantra ‘Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo’, hence the investments in their rural area.

“We do several projects at our rural home,” she said. “We do fish, livestock and maize farming. We are so passionate about agriculture. As you can see, we invested much in these projects and already employed people to help us. 

“We do not have much land to do more, but the small piece of land that we have, we use it productively and I want to challenge people in rural areas to utilise land and earn a living, contributing to rural industrialisation. So we are also appealing to authorities to assist us so that we can get more land to invest in.

“Our President is always encouraging us to work hard and we are doing exactly that. We do have a challenge of land, and we would love to expand our projects and create more employment as well as contributing to the attainment of Vision 2030.”

Mr Munetsi Madhairo, the manager of all projects, said they were planning to expand and appealed for more land for them to be able to do so.

“We are doing good projects and I am in charge of these programmes,” he said. “I am assisted by nine permanent employees and occasionally we employ more than 20 others to assist us. We are into farming, livestock and fish production.

“We have more than 100 cattle here and now our grazing land is becoming small. We have the potential to grow, but we do not have any more land to expand our projects, hence we appeal to the Government to assist us.”

A youth employed at the homestead, Mr Fidelis Mhizha, said gone were the days whereby youths flocked into towns and cities in search of employment, yet that can be created even in the rural areas.

“I am so privileged to be working and earning an income while in my rural areas,” he said. “I am here employed at Mukure Nyahunzvi where we are doing income generating projects like fish farming, livestock production as well as farming. 

“I am glad that I am working hard and earning income, right now I am saving some money so that I can pursue and further my studies. I want to do a nursing course so I am saving money towards that. 

“Working here has given me an opportunity to introspect and realise who and what I want to become. As a youth, I keep myself busy and have no time for abusing drugs and substances. It is sad that some of my age mates are busy abusing these life destroying drugs instead of focusing on their lives. There is no reward in abusing drugs and substances. I want to call out to my fellow youths to work for themselves and remind them that working hard pays.”

Another employee, Mr Romeo Chinengeyi, said he was grateful to be employed and urged others to keep themselves busy and stop engaging in activities that put their lives and that of others in jeopardy.