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Walter Nyamukondiwa in BANKET
Vice President Constantino Chiwenga yesterday said Zanu-PF will work tirelessly and make sure the Second Republic shines like a diamond by delivering on its election promises. He also revealed that Government was considering subsidising inputs and was working with the private sector to ensure this materialised.

This would ensure maximum production, viability and growth of the agriculture sector.
VP Chiwenga said this during a tour of Nyati Mhenyu Farm in Banket belonging to Mr Mike Mutasa, who has emerged as one of the most successful farmers being supported by Government under the Command Agriculture programme.

“President Mnangagwa has a mantra which says ‘Zimbabwe is open for business’ and his vision is to remove every impediment to people’s success,” he said.

“The team leading the Second Republic shall work to ensure that Zimbabwe shines like a diamond. For that to happen, we need to work together. What we were promising during the campaign period should be fulfilled.”

VP Chiwenga said Zanu-PF under President Mnangagwa maintains its position that an election is a one-day event that should not encumber the country and its leadership.

He said politics could not be prepared and served on the table and must be relegated to the background and priority given to the economy.

Turning to agricultural production, VP Chiwenga said Government was in consultation with the private sector to reorganise support given to farmers.

“We want to say tariffs for water and electricity should be reduced significantly for farmers to ensure that our silos are full and also maximise production,” he said.

“We want to also look at the inputs such as chemicals, fertilisers and everything that the farmers use to produce. We want to subsidise inputs not to subsidise output.”

VP Chiwenga said the move would ensure that farmers got inputs easily, thereby increasing production.
“We want as Government, when we are sworn in, to look at ways of subsidising the inputs to ensure farmers produce,” he said. “We want maximum production on the farms.”

VP Chiwenga said subsidising inputs would help stabilise the economy and the price of agricultural produce.
He said President Mnangagwa’s vision of transforming Zimbabwe into a middle income economy by 2030 could only be realised through the efforts and energy of youths.

“The youths are the people who shall move with President Mnangagwa’s vision of making this country a middle class economy,” said VP Chiwenga. “Money is found in the land and we want people who flock to towns to know that the land can make people rich.

“With youth involvement in agriculture, Zimbabwe will never be backward again. Instead of having youths destroying other people’s property and seeking to get rich through unscrupulous means, they should be involved in agriculture.”

VP Chiwenga commended Mr Mutasa, who managed to deliver 8 400 tonnes of maize to the Grain Marketing Board last season and 8 000 tonnes this year, as a model for other youths to emulate.

Mr Mutasa’s farm is 260 hectares, but he rents about 800ha more from surrounding farms.
VP Chiwenga expressed gratitude to Government for supporting farmers so that they increase production.

Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement Minister Perrance Shiri said the country was no longer importing maize thanks to the Command Agriculture programme initiated two seasons ago.