.. .suppliers of machinerY^ equipment and spares to the mining and industrial sectors driiiing equipment • heavy earth moving equipment and spares • bearings • electric cable • wire rope • pumps • scraper winches • tyres and tyre chains • lathes • presses • cranes • lighting • milling machines • power and hand tools 11 Mafeking Rd, Belmont, Bulawayo

P.O. Box FM 69; telex 3541 zw; tel: 76351/76319/77028/77080 PromedU Graphics CONTENTS Editorial 2 Letters 2 President receives the 1988 Africa Prize for leadership for the Sustainable End of Hunger 5 President Speaks-out on the Plight of Refugees and Displaced Persons 8 Muzenda Urges Journalists to Develop Effective Communication Networks 9 The First Lady Opens Magunje Agricultural Show 11 Jock Kay on Agriculture 12 Problems and Successes of Small Scale Commercial Jock Kay on Agriculture Farmers (SSCF) ; 13 National Farmers Association of Zimbabwe Reports on . . . page 12 Communal Agricultural Output 17 Agriculture to Remain Backbone of Country's Economy 18 If the Hungry Could Eat Words 22 Gwebi College's Role in Zimbabwean Agriculture 23 Gwebi Agricultural College 24 Mashonaland Central Province e AFC in Bindura: Prospects and Problems 25 e Agricultural Production in Bindura District 26 FOCUS ON e Chipadze: A Model of a Successful Creche 27 PROVINCES Mashonaland West Province e Communal Farmers in Makonde Bracing for a Rewarding Venture 28 Muzenda Urges Journalists e On Multi-Issues in Mashonaland West 29 to Develop Effective Midlands Province Commimication Networks e Shanduko Co-operative Set for a New Era 31 The Vice President of the Republic of e News In Brief 32 Zimbabwe Comrade Simon Muzenda, has challenged the developmental Matabeleland North Province journalist to reftain from using the same e What's Done at Nguboyenja Jairos Jiri Centre in Bulawayo? 33 journalistic tools which have been used e New Party Structures in Matabeleland North 35 by an exploitative and oppressive e A Political Choir Emerged in Matabeleland North 35 machinery, page 9 e Unfair Treatment — Cause for Concern for the Disabled 36 Masvlngo' Province e Takaita Njere Co-operative gives hope to the local women .' 36 National Farmers e Nyajena District: Zorogwi Women's Co-operative Aspires for Self-reliance and Community-based Solutions Association of Zimbabwe's to Problems 37 Report on Communal e Rural Self-employment Creation 38 Agricultural Output e Appalling Conditions at Ngundu Government Clinic 38 e News In Brief 39 The results of last season's harvest in Bitter about non-Promotion 39 Zimbabwe were very encouraging Highfield Polyclinic — Occasional free lectures to especially the contribution from the out-patients 40 communal farmers, page 17 Grinding Mills to Spread to Growth Points 40

Zimbabwe News is the official Ne«vs Organ of tf»e Zimbabwe African Natkmal UHKMI [ZANU (PF)1 and is produced on tfie autfiority of the Central Committee by the Department of Information and Publicity, Jongwe Printing and ONGWE Publishing Co., No. 14 Austin Road, Workington, Harare. World Copyright, Central Committee [ZANU (PF)].

EdHorial CouncU: Cde. N.M. Shamuyarira; Cde. S.S. Mumbengagwi; Cde. Ndhlovu; Cde. J. Zvobgo; Cde. K. Batsirayi; Cde. M. Munyati. UVKIISHK MIW tSJOCMIIM

ZIMBABWE NEWS OCTOBER, 1988 EDITORIAL Congratulations President Mugabe

n 21 July, 1988, His Excellency Comrade Robert high degree of social harmony which few could have predicted Mugabe, President of our young Republic was named would follow Zimbabwe's violent struggle for independence. as the wuiner of the Second Annual Africa prize for OLeadership forthe Sustainable End of Hunger. The announce• For winning the Africa Prize, President Mugabe received great ment was made by Mr. Bradford Morse, Chairman of Africa praise from many statesmen around the world. President Kaun- Prize jury, at a global teleconference originating from Lusaka, da of Zambia, summed up the main sentiments expressed when Zambia, and from UN headquarters in New York. he described Comrade Mugabe as a "gallant freedom flgbter. He fought exploitation of man by man, on the basis of deep- More than 3 000 Hunger Project participants and other sup• rooted principle." porters of the future of Africa assembled at 128 sites in 18 coun• tries to participate in the announcement. The two originating In Africa, given the magnitude of the problems which we face, sites were linked by two-way te|evision, which was then distribut• exhibiting leadership takes a truly extraordinary degree of ed across North America, by satellite transmission and learn• courage, vision, commitment, dedication and a powerful sense ing channel, cable televisions and premier educational network. of purpose. We in Zimbabwe are fortunate to have a leader who The programme was seen live across Zambia on the Zambia has all these qualities. National Broadcasting Corporation. At other sites, from Auck• We congratulate you. Comrade Mugabe. Well done! land to Geneva, from New Delhi to Munich, from Nairobi and Harare to Sydney and London, groups participated in the lar• gest telephone conference call in Hunger Project history. Another Bumber Harvest President Mugabe was cited in Mr. Morse's announcement for bringing peace and prosperity in Zimbabwe, and for estab• The Zimbabwe farmers have done it again! It is common lishing policies which have made Zimbabwean agriculture "one knowledge that the rains were late in coming last year. The crop• of the most impressive success stories on the continent." ping season started with considerable apprehension for fear of This international recognition of President Mugabe's leader• another drought. When the rains did eventually come, our farm• ship talents is well deserved. Under his guidance, our country ers rose to the occasion. We now have a bumper crop in both has made tremendous strides since political liberation in 1980. maize and cotton. This is particularly true for our peasant and commercial farm• The late start of the season also meant a late harvest. There ers. Communal and small farms have since 1980 increased their was therefore great concern by the farmers that the crops would crop revenues ten-fold and extended their share of agricultural not be brought in before the rains. What a blow this would have production from 10 percent to 64 percent. They now receive been to the farmers; what an embarassment this would have 18 times more farm loans than in 1979. been to our President having just received the coveted prize for Public health and education have also vastly improved in Zim• leadership for the Sustainable end of Hunger. babwe. Infant mortality rate has dropped in this country from Government must be congratulated for rising up to the occa• 121 in 1979 to 76 today. Primary school enrolment has tripled sion by mobilising transport (DDF, CMED, RMS, ZNA, ZRP) and secondary school enrolment increased five-fold. to participate in the crop haulage programme we are now as• President Mugabe is internationally respected as one of the sured that all crops will be in before the rains. intellectual giants of the African continent. He has achieved a Well Done Farmers! Well Done Government! • LETTERS

have huge debts must never be attracted to women and children to America as slaves. Dumping Toxic Waste in Africa receive a little bit of money so that they can After the slave trade they colonised us, loot• have this dangerous toxic waste dumped in ing all our mineral wealth as well as our their territories, for they will kill future natural resources for another 300 years. The Editor, generations of African children. Now we fought against slavery and we I was shocked and angered to hear that some fought against colonialism and defeated the Italian companies are trying to dump dan• The European Economic Community Europeans. Now they want to kill us by gerous toxic waste in our country Zim• should also stop their member-states from depositing their dangerous toxic waste in our babwe. Italian companies have dumped dan• dumping this dangerous toxic waste in Afri• rivers and in our soil so that future geijera- gerous waste in Nigeria. Even more danger• ca. They must pass in their European Pariia- tions of African children can be killed. The< ous waste has also been dumped in Benin, ment a humane law that forbids all their European Economic Community produces Guinea-Bissau, and other African countries members from taking waste to Africa. The 30 million tonnes of industrial waste every with or without their knowledge. This dan• European nations are despising Africa far year. Public opinion in Europe does not al• gerous practice must be stopped forthwith too much. For nearly 400 years they looted low them to dump it there without it being by all African countries. ;£ven those that this continent of its manpower, taking men. properly treated. But this treatment is very

2 ZIMBABWE NEWS OCTOBER, 1988 costly. So, the European businessmen have Information and Publicity of the Party, par• I am a blind man who works at Jairos Jiri found a new trade of selling this waste to ticularly the person responsible for the dis• Centre in the Mziiikazi High Density Area African countries at ridiculously low rates. tribution of the magazine "Zimbabwe in Bulawayo. I started work in May 1986 In Guinea-Bissau, European and American News". and I managed to save a little money. toxic waste has been deposited there while We put much effort in compiling reports As a matter of fact, I proposed love to paying that government $40 per tonne. This on the Reburial Exercise of the fallen ex- Miss Ntombi Yeskolo whose father is John• price is a fraction of what it would cost them combatants. We sent you the reports which son Ndebele. Once the woman accepted my to process the waste in Europe and deposit were published in the August Issue which proposal, I arranged a go-between (munyai) it there. I think we must take firm measures focussed on the Heroes Reburial Exercise. to discuss on my behalf the issue of lobola. to stop this new form of human slavery. This August Issue has not been sent to Mas- In 1986 the first payment of roora was $30 The Organization of African Unity has vingo Province. Why? Is it that we are and the second in the same year amounted passed a resolution urging African govern• forgotten? to $80,00. I paid $60,00 in 1987. ments to refiise to receive this dangerous waste. But that is not enough. Those govern• Please, we need 200 copies of the above Now my problem is that the father of the ments that receive this waste should be mentioned Magazine. We also want to read girl is rough. He does not want his daugh• brought before an international court of our own history on the reburial of our fallen ter to marry me. The munyai is also threa• African countries set up in Addis Ababa, heroes. tened. I have decided to take the matter to Ethiopia. We must try and bring to justice Yours, the local community court at Makhandeni those European salesmen and those Africans in Bulawayo because the village court was who receive this dangerous toxic waste. I Comrade-in-arms not willing to help. The Community Court appeal to the Non-Aligned Movement to act Masvingo is also delaying. My question is, does the on this matter. local community court also not want to hear Does the Local Community Court not my case? It seems pe(^e do not want to help Yours faithfully want to Hear my Case? those who are blind. Does our legal system S.K Murahwa only cater for those who see? Murehwa District Please hear the blind too! I want my wife. If the wife is not available, her father should The Editor, give back my money which 1 paid as part Why have you not srait us Zimbabwe News I write to seek your help either by pub• of lobola. Issue on Reburial Exercise? licizing my letter or by advising me on what course of action I should take. But before Yours, The Editor, doing that, you probably would want to The Blind Complainant know what my problem is all about. Let me Peter Chemhere We direct this letter to the Department of tell you. Mberengwa

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8 RAILWAY AVENUE - MUTARE Send their best wishes and congratulations to His Excellency the President Comrade R.G. Mugabe on winning the 1988 Africa Prize for Leadership for the Sustainable End of Hunger

4 ZIMBABWE NEWS OCTOBER, 1988 President Receives the 1988 Africa Prize for Leadership for the Sustainable End of Hunger The Zimbabwe News publishes below in full the speech by His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Comrade R.G. :Musabe on the occasion of the Presentation to him of the Africa Prize for Leadership for the Sustainable End of Hunger in New York on September, 15, 1988.

personally feel most singularly ideas, dioughts and financial resources into agricultural producers themselves, for they honoured and priviledged to be here to• tfie establishment of die Hunger Progect. The are a key factor in the war against hunger. day to receive the Hunger Project's annual Africa Prize for Leadership for the In the case of Zimbabwe, the place and role ISecond Annual Africa prize for Leadership Sust ainable End of Hunger's greatest value of the previously neglected small peasant or for the Sustainable End of Hunger. It is, in• does not so much lie in generous financial communal fanner deserves special mention. deed, with a sense of gratitude and deep hu• award, important Aough this is, as in the mility that I accqjt this honour. I do so with fact that it draws international attention and the M knowledge diat this prestigious prize that of Africa in particular, to the sccwrge Agriculture Sector is not fob me alone, but is, even more im• of hunger which ravages many countries I believe that those who have been tempted portantly, for the people of Zimbabwe, and e^iecially in Sub-Saharan Africa and to the to characterise the modest achievements of especially those hard-working and resource• inqwrative need for us all to work systemat• our agricultural sector in the past eight years ful Zimbabweans, our farmers, both large ically towards its elimination. as a miracle have been inspired by the en• and small-scale, commercial and ccmimunal. couraging contriburion of the small producers in our Communal Lands. These Mr. Chairman, let me begin by also plac• The Prize is thus designed to focus inter• Lands, formerly known as Tribal Trust ing on record my most sincere gratitude on national attention, as well as that of the peo• Lands (TTL), were a creation of the colonial record to those members and non-members ple of Africa, on Africa's struggle against regime in our country. Tky were a glaring of the Hunger Project who, collectively or hunger, starvation, malnutrition and relat• manifestation of that regime's racially-based severally, put my name in nomination for ed evils. In addition, it places the spotlight and discriminatory land policies. Although this prize and the generous award that goes on the nature and quality of leadership as these lands were the home of most of the with it. On my own behalf and on behalf of it relates to agricultural development in country's population, their agricultural my country, I also wish to pay tribute to all general and national agricultural policies in production never — and by design too — these persons, honourable men and wom• particular. Yet, in all this, we should never rose above the subsistence level. Hiese en, who have dedicated and invested their lose sight of the people, particularly the Lands were the reservoirs of cheap and

^ ZIMBABWE NEWS OCTOBER, 1988 5 semi-slave African labour, which was the backbone of the White Settler economy. In fact, at Independence, food production in these crowded and impoverished areas had dropped to below the subsistence level. On the other hand, the large-scale commercial farming sector had always received maxi• mum attentioh and preferential treatment from the Government. Not only did the commercial farmers own large farms in the best parts of the country, they also had ac• cess to credit, fertilisers, extension services and marketing facilities. Distinguished Guests, such discriminatory policies against the African farmers in the communal areas were obviously repugnant and unacceptable to us as an independent na• tion. As a Government committed to the principles of non-racialism, equality and democracy, we had inevitably to address ourselves to this situation at Independence Ploughing for soH-sufflcloncy as a matter of high priority. In tackling this daunting task, my Government was confi• in 1980/81, our farmers were even more de• dependence and the new democratic order dent that, with imaginative policies, deliber• termined to produce higher yields. have enabled the introduction of appropri• ate encouragement and appropriate incen• The period after 1981, including especial• ate land reform programmes, which are a tives, the peasant farmers could not only ly the 1983/84 season, was seriously affect• prerequisite to a successftil agricultural revo• produce enough to meet the immediate needs ed by drought. Indeed 1983/84 witnessed lution. The phenomenon of dualism, which of their families, but could also in fact turn one of the severest droughts on record. had hitherto characterised the colonial out increasing amounts of marketable sur• Despite the setbacks of the drought, agricultural policy, is now being replaced pluses. Thus, at the very outset, in 1980, however. Government remained totally con• by a system deliberately designed to bring my Government introduced a rural resettle• vinced of the correctness of promoting the the peasant and small land-holder into the ment programme for our landless peasants. efforts of peasant fanners and small-scale cash economy on terms and conditions This pri>gramme was, however, implement• producers as one of the most appropriate and favourably comparablfe to those of the large- ed under the proviso that the land so provid• effective strategies of rural development. scale commercial farmer. The idea is to up• ed was to be put to productive use. Govern• Fortunately, the 1984/85 season was good. lift, the productive capacity of the peasant ment also distributed better quality seed and Subsequent seasons, though interrupted by sector which accounts for 70 per cent of thf fertilizers to the peasant farmers, including the serious drought in 1986/87, were, on the population, while rationalising and coi erstwhile war refugees and displaced per• whole, satisfactory. This year is, however, solidating the large-scale commerci; sons. We also promised improved market• a particularly good year across the country. sub-sector. ing facilities and better prices for whatever As a result of the above efforts, the place ' Measures of Stability surpluses the farmers were able to produce. of the peasant producer in ensuring adequate The statutory control of the agricultural national food security has been firmly es• producer prices and the flexible market in• tablished. Indeed, the peasant farmers and tervention have enabled the Government to Government Policy small-scale producers' agricultural produc• implement some measure of income stabil• The farmers' acceptance of Government tion now accounts for 64 per cent of the na• ity in the agricultural sector and to unleash policy and their hard work were quickly and tional production. a significant level of economic activity in generously rewarded. As is now well the hitherto dormant traditional sector. known, the combination of government poli• War Against Hunger cies, hard work on the part of all our farm• Comrades and Friends, the story of Zim• The producer and selling prices of essen• ers, and the heavens' cooperation in bring• babwe's modest success in waging its war tial agricultural products are set by Govern• ing good soaking rains all over the country, against hunger, starvation, malnutrition and ment each year after taking account of enabled our newly-independent nation to related diseases can be told in words and il• domestic and international demand realise a bumper harvest in the 1980/81 sea• lustrated statistically. This has already been structures. son. Most striking was the contribution of done by various analysts and I shall shortly This feature of agricultural incentives has the communal farmers to this harvest and, return to this aspect. One point needs to be not only been the awarding of regular price I might add, to subsequent harvests. They emphasised about the Zimbabwe experience, increases to the farmers to compensate for realised large surpluses which they were however, and that is that the struggle against the changes in the cost of production and eager to sell in order to meet other needs. hunger and malnutrition is also a ftmction with a view to increasing output, the policy True to its promises, the Government assist• of democracy and equity. Under colonial• has also been accompanied by bold decisions ed the farmers with the transportation of ism, deprivation and hunger existed side by on the part of Government to adjust con• their produce to the market. The farmers side with affluence and opulence. This sit• sumer selling prices and gradually move also fetched good prices for their crops. uation continues in apartheid South Africa, away from a cheap food policy based on Distinguished and Esteemed Friends, the where the oppressed black child's preoccu• price subsidies. This strategy has in turn happy results of the 1980/81 season en• pation is where and when to have his next enabled Government to sustain its positive couraged Government in its conviction that meal while his white brothers' main concern and 'remunerative price, policy structure agriculture, the backbone of Zimbabwe's is how to find an excuse to skip one of his while ensuring a stable food supply at economic development, should be given too many meals. reasonable cost to the consumer, particularly even greater attention in future. Our Tran• Zimbabwe's modest victories in the war the low income groups. sitional National Development Plan, which to end and banish hunger are clearly a se• As earlier observed, the positive result of was promulgated in 1982 placed an ap• quel to our other victory over colonialism these policies has been rapid increase in the propriate accent on the agricultural sector, and racial oppression. Independence brought contribution of peasant farmers to the na• with even greater emphasis upon the peasant with it opportunities for the majority of our tional production figures, household food producer in the Communal Lands. Having people to be involved in productive activi• security and to the overall agricultural econ• themselves tasted the sweet fruits of success ties, including Agriculture. National In• omy. For example, the production of key

6 ZIMBABWE NEWS OCTOBER, 1988 'crops like maize and cotton by the small Comrades and Friends, while Zimbabwe• including water development and the co• farmers is now almost on a par with that of an fanners seem to have been reasotiably ordination of the fight against locusts and their large-scale commercial counterparts. successful, the Government continues to be other crop pests. The World Food In the year ending 30th September, 1986 concerned about the phenomenon of land Programme, the FAG and the UN Disaster small-scale and communal farmers delivered degradation through soil erosion. The rapid Relief Organisation, to name only a few, are 819 000 tonnes or 45 percent of the maize deterioration in the quality of land is only well known in Zimbabwe. 1 want to reiter• grain total compared with 38 000 tonnes in matched by the high growth rate of our ate my country's determination to play its the year ending 30th September, 1980. Simi• population. It is clear that a rapidly deteri• part in Africa's efforts to eliminate the con• lar achievements have been made with cot• orating resource base will soon be unable tinent's persistent food crisis as urged by the ton. In the year ending February 1987 small- to sustain a fast growing population, unless UN Programme of Action for African Eco• scale and communal farmers delivered 55 both trends are arrested. For diis reason, we nomic Recovery and Development percent of the total compared to 10 percent are intensifying our family planning (1986-90). of the total intake of 1980. programmes. At the same time, we have ap• On a national scale, surpluses have also plied various resource planning and manage• been recorded in beef and dairy products, ment techniques, including, though currently Africa Food Crisis small grains and horticultural products. Milk only experimentally, a new model known Ladies and Gentlemen, I cannot conclude intake by our Dairy Marketing Board, for as Holistic Resource Management which, this statement without making reference, al• example, increased from 150 million litres we hope, should ensure economic benefits beit briefly, to the African food crisis. The in 1981/82 to 222 million in 1986/87 result• and long-term ecological soundness. facts of this crisis are well enough known ing in a positive impact on nutrition. and I need not go into them in any detail. Food Security Efforts We all know of the harrowing pictures of Secure Future Mr. Chairman, the people of Zimbabwe haggard women and men and, above all, Distinguished Guests, as is clear from our know that they are not alone in the struggle children with bony imitations of normal First Five-Year National Development Plan, against hunger and starvation. Our efforts limbs and sunken eyes, all silhoutted against the agricultural sector has a secure future constitute Zimbabwe's modest contribution a blazing sun and all teetering towards vir• in Zimbabwe. Yet there is also much room to the regional, or even continental, food tually certain death in some remote wind• for improvement, including the need to im• security efforts. Zimbabwe, as is known, swept plain on our continent. Ethiopia, prove yields significantly, particularly in the coordinates the Food Security Programme Mozambique, Sudan, the entire Sahel region communal sub-sector. To this end, we have of the SADCC regional grouping. In this ca- and other areas of ou^r continent, have be• set up Farming System Research Units in • pacity, we commit considerable resources come household names around the world be• order to further understand the farmers' pri• towards the development of regional strate• cause the television camera has told the story orities and constraints. We are also continu• gies and plans to combat hunger, starvation of how death from the ravages of hunger can ing with the process of strengthening our ex• and poverty beyond our national borders. be so cruel and painful and yet so common. isting extension services. Our researchers In addition, Zimbabwe also subscribes to Can we escape responsibility, whoever w6 still observe a big gap between their ex• and participates in a number of other region• are? Can we stand aloof or switch off the perimental plot yields and the theoretical al and continental organisations concerned potential yields calculated from the amount with issues of food production and agricul• of solar radiation falling on our fields. tural development. As the grain yields per unit area are in• This statement cannot be complete without creased nationwide, we feel encouraged to reference to the role and contributions of diversify our agricultural sector to encom• friendly governments, non-governmental or• pass more crops, thus broadening the nutri• ganisations, international organisations and tional base and creating new possibilities for specialised UN agencies. They have all com• rural development and employment. A mitted substantial financial, material, and sound agricultural base facilitates the reali• human resources towards the development sation of forward and backward linkages of our food security. Their activities encom• with industry. pass a variety of activities in the rural areas

Mozamblcan mothars quauing for food In rafugaa camps offending pictures from our TV screens in favour of more acceptable fare? We surely ought to say NO to hunger in an age of grain mountains and the techno• logical revolution. We surely ought to realise that while food handduts bring welcome relief — indeed life itself — to the starving, foreign assistance ZlmbabwM's modMt vIetoriM in tti* war against hunger ara fuHy supportad by programmes ought to be directed towards cMldran improving the productive infrastructure and

ZIMBABWE NEWS OCTOBER. 1988 capacities of the recipient countries. The of economic benefit should be in the reverse Those who share the burden with us — the qnead of deserts is inevitable; it can be direction for a change. Hunger Project among them — make the realisation of success even more certain. blocked. The destruction of tropical forests Transfer Technology and the siltation of rivers are not God- We call on the developed coimtries to trans• Ladies and Gentlemen, once again as I ac• ordained phenomena; they can, given a fer the technology that would enable us to knowledge, with humility and gratitude, the sense of conunitment on the part of us all, conquer hunger and mass starvation today great honour donft to me by the Hunger be prevented or reversed. Low agricultural rather than in some remote foture. We call Project, by way of this prestigious award, productivity arising from the use of primi• on them to realise that while today the con• I must pay a richly deserved tribute to all tive implements and the absence of techni• tinent of Africa may be viewed in some the agricultural producers of Zimbabwe and cal know-how should, as we enter the last quarters as a disaster area, we Africans, are the various relevant agencies of Govern• decade of the 20th century, be regarded as determined to secure our future and to es• ment, for their conunitment, dedication and an unmitigated evil in the perpetuation of tablish ourselves as tixnorrow's OHitinent. hardwork. As I said at the beginning, this which we all surely have some share of We have already in many places on flje con• Prize is ours together. I call on than and re^nsibility. tinent begun the irreversible march towards on all our people to view this award as a If we remain cognisant of the fact that a future of progress, prosperity and happi• stepping stone, indeed an encouragement, Africa was once violenUy subjugated and ex• ness for our people. Whilst we have no il• to yet greater struggles and achievements in ploited under slavery and colonialism, it cer• lusions about the weight of the responsibil• the fight against imdenlevelq»nent and mass tainly is not too much to ask that, in this day ity that history has thrust on our shoulders, poverty and hunger. of the African political renaissance, the flow we are nevertheless determined to succeed. ^ Thank you.

President Speaks out on the Plight of Refugees and Displaced persons

is Excellency, the President, Com• 70 000 are Mozambicans running away ' 'The bloody massacres by the South Afri• rade R.G. Mugabe has identified from the MNR bandits. He said many more can backed bandits and the attacks on our South Africa's evil policy of apar- are arriving every day and a fifth camp to main access routes," Comrade Mugabe, H who is also the Chairman of the Non- ttaekl as the root cause of the Southon Africa house about 23 000 refugees is to be c^ned. problem of refugees, displaced persons and Of concern to Comrade Mugabe was that Aligned Movement said, "are part of South returnees. He was speaking at the Intema- the camps are badly crowded. This can Africa's "total strategy" aimed at making ticHi^ Conference on the plight of Refiigees, cause serious health problems. Southern African states economically depea- Returnees and Displaced persons in Comrade Mugabe also said Zimbabwe is dent on it and thus politically subservient". Southern Africa in Norway's capital Oslo ready to receive displaced Arsons. He was Speaking at the conference attended by- in August. concerned with the cross-border raids, Mr. Ide Onmarou (Chairman of the Con• The President said that there are over murders, rapes, robberies and destruction ference and the Organisation of African Uni• 100 000 refugees in Zimbabwe of whom of property by the RENAMO bandits. ty's Secretary General) Mausia Traore

8 ZIMBABWE NEWS OCTOBER, 1988 (OAU Chairman) and Cde. Kenneth Kaun- ence (SADCC) makes commendable efforts rade Mugabesaid of the more than 200 000, da, Cde. Mugabe said this problem of refu• to improve and rehabilitate the region's de• the few remaining ones are still moving to gees will continue as long as apartheid velopment infrastructure; South Africa crip• Zimbabwe. The success of the rehabilita• exists. ple those efforts through RENAMO and tion, he said, has been largely because of UNIT A. It is thus important for some the political solution in Zimbabwe. He dismissed the view that sanctions will SADCC countries to deploy material and hurt South African blacks as an excuse to human resources to protect outlets to the sea. Of the refugees settledin Zimbabwe most continue supporting the Pretoria regime. are being provided with education and skills "We in Southern Africa are prepared to Speaking on the Namibian problem, the training, some as buildfers, carpenters, sacrifice today for a better tomorrow''. The President of the Republic of Zimbabwe said blacksmiths, tailors and agricultural President also observed that the selective more than 80 000 refugees have left producers — Comrade Mugabe also thanked economic sanctions must be up-graded into Namibia to settle in Angola, Zambia, Tan• the non-governmental organisations and the full scale because it is the only peaceful zania and Botswana. Adding, he cautioned United Nation High Commissioner for Refu• resort remaining. the international community not be compla• gees for their valuable work. cent and believe that South Africa will Comrade Robert Mugabe went on to say honour its word. "The regime's track record The conference was also attended by the that the countries which continue to support has been consistent; we are yet to be proved former Tanzania President, Mwalimu Julius Pretoria are responsible for the suffering of wrong"., Nyerereand Archbishop Desmond Tutu of the victims of apartheid. While the Southern' Cape Town who is also the President of the African Development Co-ordination Confer• Turning to Zimbabwe's exoerience. Com• All-Africa Conference of Churches. •

Muzenda Urges Journalists to Develop Effective Communication Networics

responsible hands language can be an instru• Effective Networks ment for achieving development and solidar• Progressive journalists must therefore de• ity. And yet in the hands of irresponsible velop effective networks that can effective• people language can be an instrument of ly challenge the collaborators and the allies destabilisation and cultural domination. of South Africa's disinformation campaign, Therefore, the challenge before our jour• he said. nalists is to forge a language and style that can adequately express our needs, feelings, Comrade Muzenda, who is also the Vice- aspirations and our world outlook," Com• President of the Republic of Zimbabwe rade Muzenda said. called upon the national journalists to indi• cate what national communication policies He told the conference that those tools are needed so that they become principal ac• have been used by an oppressive and ex• tors in the decision-making machinery of ploitative machinery during the colonial era. their communities. Comrade Muzenda went on to say that the journalistic values and ethics of developmen• He said the developmental journalists tal communication should be in the traditions must also criticise the powerful journalists and experiences created by our success and and foreign media that have sponsored the struggles. He also questioned the continu• magnitude of the financial, material and hu• ous use of these tools in our developing so• man resources of the Frontline States which cieties to liberate South Africa and Namibia. have been swallowed by the Pretoria re• gime's destabilisation monster. The Vice President said the colonial com• munication infrastructures were designed to Comrade Muzenda advised the develop• institute cultural domination. He pointed lan• he Vice President of the Republic mental communicators to set up their own guage and style as the two tools used by the of Zimbabwe Comrade Simon traditions to help them define human strug• colonial and Western media. T Muzenda, has challenged the gle and heroism. He said these journalists developmental journalist to refrain from us• Addressing the third conference of jour• are a strong force which should fight in the ing the same journalistic tools which have nalist organisations of Soumem Africa, struggle for survival. He also observed that been used by an exploitative and oppressive Cofnrade Muzenda called for a rejection of since independence, the Zimbabwean jour• machinery. the hypocricy of the advocates of the free• nalist has been striding in the direction of dom of the press who collaborate with the a committed and free press by cutting off He was speaking at the opening of the Pretoria regime to oppress the people of the South African connection. third Conference of Journalist Organisations South Africa and Namibia. He urged the of Southern Africa on the 21st September, reporters to expose such people who use the "The objective of the federation is to this year 1988. concept of freedom of press to provide South coordinate the activities of national journalist Africa with information and moral en- organisations. It is a landmark in the de• "Language is a double — edged sword. couragment to perpetrate aggression and velopment of progressive journalism in It can build and it can destroy. Its power sponsor armed bandits against the Frontline Southern Africa," said Comrade Muzenda. should therefore never be underrated. In States. • t ZIMBABWE NEWS OCTOBER, 1988 9 PHONE 64^31 P.O. BOX SB 'of Drg ft Stecwiv ^ ^c^a Cleo/ners Lcux/rvdrg

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10 ZIMBABWE NEWS OCTOBER, 1988 The First Lady Opens Magunje Agricultural Show

Officially opening the Hurungwe Agricultural Show, the First Lady, Comrade Sally Mugabe urged the peasants to turn away from the tradi• tional maize growing and venture into oilseed production which can generate much needed foreign currency in Zimbabwe. The Zimbabwe News reproduces the full text below >

t is my pleasure to have been accorded this opportunity to preside over the offi• Icial opening of the Hurungwe Agricultural Show.

This is the seventh successive ocassion in the past seven years that the entire commu• nity of Hurungwe District, involving the aged and the young, the farmer and the school child, have been brought together to display our produce, skills and sportsman• ship in an atmosphere of friendly competi• tiveness. Could this spirit continue to pre• vail over the years to come. Hurungwe district stands tall in Mashonaland West as the bread basket of the province, and it is my sincere hope that you maintain, if not improve upon, this wor• thy and cherished record. It is indeed a known fact that Agricultural Production in Hurungwe has, since the attainment of In• dependence in 1980, literally progressed in leaps and bounds in the sense that, within has thus deemed it fit, year after year, to world of Flue Cured Tobacco production, that short period, production levels for major boost the producer price levels of those com• and so that the scheme does not flop techni• ' crops have almost doubled despite the ad• modities much in demand on both the cally, Agritex has concurrently launched a verse eff|ects of the vagaries of the rainfall domestic and external markets. These price vigorous and sucsessfial Staff and farmer seasons. This season, for instance, an esti• levels have been much more attractive es• training programme. Whose fruits are visi• mated 130 000 tonnes of maize and 9 600 pecially for the premium top class grades, bly manifest in the yields and quility tonnes of cotton are expected to be delivered notably oilseeds. obtained. to Grain Marketing Board and Cotton Mar• Farmers in Hurungwe must indeed be keting Board depots respectively. Granting that rainfall has been generally complemented for favourably responding to satisfactory this season, the catched water the call by Government to shift emphasis Production figures for other crops like oil• is still insufficient to accommodate excess from the traditional grain products to a sit• seed, tobacco, groundnuts and other crops livestock, some of which must be dispensed uation where a Jbalance between oilseed are not yet released, although I am told with to acceptable and sustainable levels production and grain production is struck. records have again been broken. The figures matching our resources. quoted above do provide good reading, not 1 put it before you to take up this challenge. only because fanners here are self-sufficient It is also gratifying to note that the in• It is indeed satisfying that Government has in their food consumption requirements, but troduction of flue-Cured Tobacco produc• not only raised producer price of beef, but, also because such massive sales entail a huge tion in Hurungwe has made significant head• in an effort to alleviate transport costs, two cash inflow into the district, thus bettering way indeed, bearing in mind the technical cattle-selling points have recently been es• the lot of the peasantry, and ultinwtely into intricacies entailed in its production, and the tablished within this district, and farmers are the national fiscus by way of injection of the infrastractural demands it requires. Despite urged to avail themselves of this facility. I much needed foreign currency through the the infancy of the scheme, and the erratic find it pertinent to add here that, in order external export sales of these commodities. but generally good rains received this sea• to derive maximum benefit from livestock son, the Flue-Cured Tobacco farmers have, The External World Market for most of sales, farmers must, prior to the sales, first by and large, weathered the initial problems our Agricultural products has grown high• pen-fatten their animals; of cou(-se after en• encountered, if the average yields obtained ly competitive, faced as it is, by a glut of listing technical assistance of their local are anything to go by. Additional to that, most of these products from other countries. Agritex personnel. the number of new farmers coming on this To guarantee ourselves a place on this Mar• scheme continues to soar. From an initial ket, it is therefore imperative that we aim six farmers on the scheme only four seasons not only at maximising our yield quantity, Acute Shortage of Transport ago, the number has to date risen to a total but at maximising the qualitative aspects of While we are still on transport, it is rele• of fO; a commendable achievement indeed our products. vant to point out that although Government worth of emulation by other districts. is sadly aware, and share your concern over Farmers in Hurungwe Commended In order to keep abreast of any novel tech• the acute shortage of transport you face Cognisant of this situation, the Government nical developments in the ever — changing difficuhies on trying to ferry produce to sell-

ZIMBABWE NEWS OCTOBER, 1988 11 ing points, we nevertheless cannot condon through the District Development Fund, is Resources. This district alone accommo• pirate transporters. Year after year since presently busy studying the potentiality of dates an estimated 1 500 squatters, which 1980 Government has quietly accommodat• existing weirs and dams to support irriga• is by all standards an alarming proportion. ed the activitiesof pirate transporters on the tion schemes, which, if viable, will receive Land reorganisation is another commenda• hope that they would take heed and obtain ftmding during this financial year. The com• ble method through which we can adequate• road service permits, but it has now become munity will only be doing itself a service by ly conserve our natural resources. Govern• apparent that the message has been falling taking advantage of such schemes. ment has played its role in preaching this on deaf ears, and it has equally become time gospel to you, and it now remains in your to put a clump. Meanwhile, more effort will Conservation of Soil interest to take up the call by practical im• be made to lelieve farmers of this transport Conservation of soil is an area in this dis• plementation, for apart from conserving, problem — the first having been the upgrad• trict that sticks out like a sore thumb. In spite you will stand to benefit from this scheme ing of all main roads leading to Grain Mar• of the large hectarages of land pegged by by building decent houses as assisted by keting Board Depots. Furthermore, I am the local Agritex staff, a disappointingly low Government materially. reliably informed that Government will soon percentage of the area pegged gets the neces• release money to District Development Fund sary contours constructed upon, leaving the To speedily plan and implement the de• for a crash programme to pave remote and top soil mercilessly exposed to the scourage velopment programmes above outlined that inaccessible grain routes. Farmers must of massive soil loss through erosion. While is weirs, grazing schemes woodlots, gully equally play a role by maintaining, using it may be accepted that contour construction reclamations, land reorganisation et cetera their own resources, some such roads through the traditional mode of the pick, hoe co-ordination between the various depart• wherever possible. and shovel is an ardous chore, use of the eas• ments and the community leadership struc• ily made and cheap ox-drawn dam scoops tures becomes paramount: It is, however, has been demonstrated at some conservation heartening to note that the agricultural suc• field days held here and should be taken-up cess story of Hurungwe district can be at• Need for Irrigation by farmers to expedite construction of ef• tributed largely to this aspect of cooperation Now that drought threatens to become an an• fective mechanical conservation works. aiid coordination among local development nual permanent feature, the harnessing of agencies. ^ free-flowing water through the construction Another area of concern requiring im• of weirs and dams should take our priority mediate attention is our forest and veld areas To just side — track, I would like to take in order to alleviate the scarce water that are getting denuded of vegetation at an this opportunity to inform you that Govern• resources so necessary for stock watering alarming rate. It is thus incumbent upon all ment, as evidenced in the recent launching and winter irrigation. I note that the com• farmers to ensure restoration of this pr&ious of the Child Survival Campaign, is fully munity of this district has already taken an natural resource through the introduction of committed towards the welfare of the child. initiative in this direction by building, with judicious grazing and afforestation The Campaign has ever since made tremen• their own hands, a total of four weirs be• programmes. Although I note that some ef• dous strides towards the establishment of the tween June and December last year under fort in this direction has been made as evi• Child Survival Fund, and your support will the Food-For-Work Programme. Some of denced by the existence of village woodlots belp towards the achievement of our goals. these weirs have either been washed away and gully reclamation schemes, you are still Finally, and in my capacity as Chair Lady* or abandoned uncompleted, and I wish to a long way from compensating what has of the Child Survival Campaign, I want to urge you to repair or complete them in terms been plundered. We the legimate farmers make an appeal to all parents to extend their of self-reliance, unless of course if the should assist Government agencies in iden• greatest care and love to our children, and programme is re-introduced for the sole pur• tifying and evicting squatters who have con• prepare them to be responsible fathers and pose. On the other hand. Government, tributed largely to the plunder of our Natural mothers of tomorrow. • Jock Kay on Agriculture

ecently Zimbabwe News carried an since Independence. He however, pointed interview with the Deputy Minister that it is the policy of the Ministry to en• of Lands, Agriculture and Rural courage the growing of crops that are suit• R ed to the different agro-ecological regions. Resettlement, Mr. Jock Kay, on the results of the last season's harvest and on the This applies to maize as well. Maize is most problems the fanners are facing in their day susceptible to drought and is not suited for to day work. the marginal areas where other crops such as mhunga, rapokb and even cotton and soya According to Mr. Jock Kay, the last season, beans can do relatively well. i.e. the 1987/1988 growing season was a much better one than the previous season. Cotton is also popular among peasant farm• An outstanding feature of the season was that ers because of its income generating charac• the rains came very late and this presented teristic and its relative drought tolerance. some difficulties. However, overall the sea• Also of importance in the peasant sector are son did turn out well and all indications are sunflowers and the small grains, mhunga that cotton and soya beans for instance are , and'rapoko. With the exception of maize heading for a record crop; maize intake will which is a staple crop, the popularity of the be much improved and the quantity and other crops is dictated by the location of the valjie of tobacco on offer at the Auction peasant farming in the more marginal areas. floors is outstanding. The improved season Mr. Jock Kay said maize remains the m»st also brought much needed relief of the popular crop among peasant fanners be• Dissatisfaction on Maize Price livestock industry which is still in the cause it is the staple diet of the majority of It is true that producers have expressed dis• process of recovering from the drought of the people. There has been phenomenal satisfaction with the producer price of maize recent years. growth in maize production in this sector and this is of great concern because maize

ZIMBABWE NEWS OCTOBER, 1988 12 is the staple diet. Because of the droughts Transport Ministry Responsibility are deployed. The task force has now been that occur so frequently in this part of the Cabinet tasked the Ministry of Transport decentralised to ensure that problems are world, it is necessary that in addition to with the responsibility of chairing a task dealt with immediately as they arise. One producing sufficient maize to feed the na• force of all relevant parties to look into the cannot categorically say that this new syS' tion, there must be sufficient reserves for problems that are currently being faced by tem will solve transport problems. The work drought years. farmers in moving their crop to njarketing of the task force, given the general short• depots and collection depots. The Ministry age of transport, is to ensure that available "Only last week the Minister of Lands, of Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettle• transport is used most efficiently. In the Agriculture and Rural Resettlement assured ment is part of that task force, medium and long term, a substantial injec• farmers that he would be seeking to make tion of more trucks into the system and an maize production more profitable in the next The task force started off by identifying irnprovement in the road conditions will pro• review of prices. I trust his assurance will through the machinery of Agritex, provin• vide a more lasting solution. In addition, encourage farmers to continue growing cial Administrators' offices and farmer or• farmers should also play their part by pull• maize," he said. ganisations areas where the problem is most ing their resources together to secure acute and it is to these areas that vehicles transport. •

Problems arid Successes of Small Scale Commercial Farmers (SSCF)

The Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation had an interview with the President of the Zimbabwe National Farmers Union, Comrade Gary Magadzire on the role, successes and failures of Small Scale Commer• cial Farmers on the 17th September 1988. The following is the inter• view carried out:

QUESTION: You have 10 000 members un• how do you think the Government should can agriculture in its totality has got no der the ZNFU and you have been President tackle this problem? straight statistics that could be used to de• termine what is going to come in the next for, I believe, more than nine years. The ANSWER:-Yes the problem of transport is CFU, one of the three farming organisations season. And I know that the statistical office currently the hit of the newspapers, the ra• is trying very hard to come up with some usucdly has a system where after two to three dio and everybody else, but perhaps one has years they change the presidency, is this not formula that could be used. And, this causes to put this thing into perspective and rea• some problems of no forward planning as possibleAn the ZNFU? A president for nine lise that the type of transport network that years advising or leading farmers, seems to to what would be required in terms of trans• we have in this country was designed in the port requirements. me a bit too long? main for the commercial agriculture up un• til independence. So, therefore, once the ANSWER: Yes, I have been President for, to I think let me expand by putting it this African sector which is the African aigricul- be exact, 10 years. Ah! The ZNFU has a way, that before independence we were ture took shape and they answered the call constitution, and the constitution clearly hardly 10 per cent on the cotton production. of the President of the State to produce states that a President shall be president for Today we are talking of between 50 and 55 more, there has been greater production of five years. But, can stand for re-election af• per cent and that is 55 per cent of 320 000 crop than would have been responded by the ter his term of office of five years. And if tonnes of cotton and there is a lot of cotton available transport and this is why we have he does stand the election for the second time to move. We also are now on 48 per cent this problem. he must get two thirds majority. And, this on the maize production. We were harldy is how it has happened to me. The second aspect of it is that the Afri• 5 per cent before Independence. QUESTION: Do you find that constitution useful for your members? Don't you think a change of leadership is more acceptable, more usefiilfor promoting small-scale com• mercial farming.

ANSWER: Well, I don't know whether you imply that the longer you stay the more you become a deterrent to development.' QUESTION: It has been known to happen in quite a lot of organisations, yes.

ANSWER: Yes but I tilink you have to look at other progressive organisations which clearly show some advantage in that sphere. If I may just point out to you that ZNFU started in 1925, and since 1925 there have only been four Presidents. So historically, we have inherited that stability, I believe. QUESTION: Comrade Magadzire, one of the problems facing farmers is the lack of ade• quate transport facilities and poor roads. "Thar* Is a lot of cotton to move to tho CMB" — Comrwl* Gary Magadzlrt

I ZIMBABWE NEWS OCTOBER, 1988 13 QUESTION: In fact. Comrade Magadzire QUESTION: It is useful for plarming. Future that the response in terms of agricultural those are very very good statistics, they read planning. production has been far greater than what like a tourist brochure, its OK to point out ANSWER: It is extremely useful for Plan• was expected, but, its not as though noth• statistics, but they have not been matched ning. But you can give an estimate in Janu• ing has been done about it. We have had a by the quality of life within the rural areas. ary to say, "the yields this year, are likely number of transit depots and receiving She has mentioned the problem of transport. to strike 15 000 kg per hactare on cotton, depots that have been built out in rural areas If we have produced so much, who is benefit• and in February, March, you don't get the which is alleviating some of the problems ting? If in the end the African farmers are rain and that yield can tumble to 600 kg. So, we are having at the moment. But, I agree actually benefitting, then that success story that is why I say it is an estimate. But even that that is not enough when the people want should have been matched by improved then, when you know in January what is to market their crops and they want the quality of life in the form of roads, trans• likely to come, it is too late for Government money in their pockets today. port systems, even in their own life. I am machinery, really, to say they put infrastruc- QUESTION: Comrade Magadzire, there a peasant farmer, well, not a peasant farm• tural development. I think. Government have been reports that some resettled farm• er, lama simple person and what I am say• machinery must for all time be on the roll• ers are not fiilly using the land allocated to ing to you now as a product of that environ• ing, and come up with infrastructures, ev• them, what are you doing about it? ment I know exaaly what is happening there ery time in anticipation. This is how I would ANSWER: My union represents the small because lama peasant by both incliruition like to see it. scale commercial farmers. We do not and up-bringing and this is the truth I am represent the resettlement farms. But, telling you. QUESTION: Who is benefiting ? I don't think your members are really benefiting. Tell us perhaps I could just put you to rest and tell ANSWER: Yes, the development of infras• the truth. Who is benefiting from this you that we have taken a deliberate effort tructure in niral areas has not matched maize production success story? We are talking of to co-ordinate and conuiununicate with both production and I don't think you would have a number of years. ' resettled, communal and ourselves to see expected from an agronomic point of view how best we can help each other, because that the production pattern should match ANSWER: Well, the farmer does benefit in this whole game is a collective effort. It is with the infrastructural development, be• that you can count. I heard the interviewer not individualistically connected. cause it is not possible. But I think, what saying he comes from a communal area, and QUESTION: How strong is the union? On we should be looking at is to take a forward you will be aware that in areas where there the sense that the CFU, they have these com• planning and say, "This is the trend", and is greater production of cash crops, there is modity associations like grain producers, our people are so responsive to this sort of greater development at the moment and the piggery associations, maize, cotton etc thing. We should try very hard to make sure question of Govenmient's de-centralisation whereas in your own union, the members are that we have the infrastructures to carry the policy has caught up in those areas more somewhat weak because they don't have the crops to where they are supposed to go. than those areas where production is low• bargaining power that these commercial Now, at the moment, we have a problem in er. So its the farmer who is benefiting but, farmers really have through their commodity that there is one ministry that should be do• lets not forget that benefit is a relative ques• associations, hence, the very little change ing the infrastructural development and that tion. We should see the life styles of the peo• in the quality of their life style, inspite of the is Local Government. Arid they are doing ple since 1980. And, I can stand authenti• high production yield? their best but they have some limitations. cally to say there is change, without any They also have financial limitations and I shadow of doubt. ANSWER: Yes, we have started developing believe that in time, and it is going to be a commodity associations from 1983 and we long time, and it will be disappointing that QUESTION: Our estimates particularly those are quite happy with the progress that is tak• to some sectors they would have their in• from the Ministry of Agriculture have been ing place at the moment. Agreed, the CFU frastructures right. fairly stable over the past nine years. They is stronger, it has got more qualified tech• have only been wrong where we have had nocrats. They could afford it. They have the drought. Otherwise, where we have had resources to employ those highly qualified QUESTION: Comrade Magadzire, my col• good harvest they have been fairly correct. people. I would tell you quite frankly that league, Mrs Chigwedere, was talking about I cannot understand then how we could not a number of well qualified people will leave matching the production pattern and rural have planned, accordingly. and join CFU and that then makes it even infrastructural development, you seemed to more stronger. But we in our own way, with have implied that the time has been too You gave an answer but I am hot satis• our meagre resources are doing everything short, the production patterns have been fied with that answer. such that one would not have been able to within our power to employ University foresee that we would produce so much and ANSWER: Yes, I respect your dissatisfaction graduates, economists, administrators so yet this is precisely what your organisation but I would like you to appreciate the fact that we can change the methodology of should have been working at — 25 years that the Ministry of Agriculture's Statistics agriculture in African agriculture and we can working in production. I think you should have not been static and they have not been see the trend is improving. Before we did have had enough economists or you should, stable. it was elected members who, of necessity by now, be aware ofproduction patterns to did not have any qualifications in agricul- an extent where you would say, "We esti• QUESTION: But, certainly they have not wre or anything. It was just an election. And mate so much" if I might even propound been far off the mark Comrade Magadzire. it made our position far weaker then. But government before harvest actually gives es• ANSWER: Well, we are going to have now that we have economists, advisors, ad• timates. What do they base those estimates 320 000 tonnes of cotton and if you check ministrators, accountants and sd forth, our on and if they should use those estimates, on the statistics it is far higher than what was position is getting stronger and stronger. why don't they develop the infrastructure in estimated. We expect about a million tonnes QUESTION: And, your support services to rural areas? of maize. If you look on the statistics we your members ? I believe we have had com• were looking at about 400 000 tonnes". So, plaints from some farmers in Mashoruiland ANSWER: Yes, we do give an estimate, and in so far as that part is concerned we can• East Province. They are rwt happy about the an estimate is just an estimate, and the esti• not say they have been stable and we can• support services you have given them. mate is based precisely on sound hactarages not say they could be a useful tool to build that have been planted with crops and an as- infrastructures on. 1 think I would like to ANSWER: I don't know what you mean by sijmption of the yield per hectare that is go• reiterate what I said earlier, that infrastnic- support services. ing to come out of that hectarage. tural development is part of the agricultur• QUESTION: / am talking about the al and people's development and should be QUESTION: It is therefore not just an esti• economists you have, the other people you mate. Comrade Magadzire an on-going thing not waiting for produc• have, are supposed to be advising you and tion as such. I think this is where tiie Minis• the farmers or you get people who advise ANSWER: Well, it is an estimate. try concerned has been caught by the fact those people, the farmers.

14 ZIMBABWE NEWS OCTOBER, 1988 ANSWER: I think it should be appreciated those with a more ppsitive view to fmding linating the idea$, and this is exactly what that our economists only complement a solution. One of the major problems is we have been doing until we arrived at this government services. We are not setting up trust, and trust you have to build bridges, stage where we now have the joint presi• a totaUy different style of giving advice. We communicate, get understanding and that dents' committee, where our economists sit complement government services and once we have succeeded in getting some, togedier and they look at the perspective of together we do our best to give the advice trust, we then formed what is now called the agriculture regardless of the levels. possible. joint presidents' committee. QUESTION: Comrade Magadzire, is there a Mashonaland East, I believe, those are the possibility of forming a federation or one un• The function of the joint presidents' com• people whom I might say have had the mo• ion and the others coming in as sub• mittee is to look on the totalling of agricul• nopoly of the services of our economists, committees especially in view of the faa that ture from a basis of one platform as opposed in that they are now looking at the method you say you are now sitting together so to three organisations doing their own thing. of marketing vegetables from that area, be• often? I can tell you that the prices and negotia• cause it is one of those areas we have ear• tions of those prices is now jointly carried marked as a horticultural area. ANSWER: Federation has been muted and out by the three organisations and we go to some feel that is the way we should go, but the ministry with a joint paper as opposed QUESTION: Are you represented on the Cot• I think we should learn from the head of this ton Marketing Board or the Grain Market• to three papers being submitted to the state. People come together. A federation ing Board? minister. means status-quo and it means we shall only have to meet when necessity dictates, and ANSWER: Yes, we are represented in all QUESTION: Its amazing Comrade Magad• I don't discount that as a possibility, but I statutory boards which have something to zire that everybody is talking about unity personally would like to see a one farming do with agriculture. whether it is political level or trade union organisation. That is my personal thinking. level, its amazing that you people at agricul• QUESTION: And your executive members, ture you have not done that. Wouldn't you QUESTION: / accept that you have made how many are farmers or know about say, you yourself as the leader of the small strides but I still feel one could have done farming? scale farmers fear being swarmed by the more and would want to agree with my col- ANSWER: There is not one leader in our un• communal farmers and the CFU President legue that I think its much more personal in• ion who is not a farmer and, in full. The fears to be swarmed by both the-small scale terests that are blocking the final merger be• leadership is elected through production. farmers and the communal farmers. Isn't cause I believe farmers want to get together, You have to demonstrate in your own that the real problem rather than a question share ideas. Trust farm for example, quite province that you are productive before you of trust? a few farmers want to get together and work can be elected to a position of leading that together: work together with government ex• province and it is only when you get to that ANSWER: No, if the problem was one of perts. But it seems you are denying them that provincial level through production that you swamping it would then mean that we have stability. get into council no clear vision of what agriculture we want ANSWER: Well when you say you are deny• in his country. I think it must be taken into QUESTION: Comrade Magadzire, are small ing, you are suggesting (The leaders) no I account the fact that agriculture is agricul• scale farmers breaking even when you take don't think that is correct may I just put you ture, regardless of the size of your opera• into consideration the high costs of inputs? into perspect? (Please). The farming com• tion. And the problems of agriculture, as we munity is one. But the question of one un• know them today, if we talk about commodi• ion has to be worked through. So there is ANSWER: Except for the drought years ty availability, if we talk about inputs, if we which have affected even the best farmers, nobody denying anybody. The Resolutions talk about space, whether you are small or that take us to negotiate for one union, so far the commodity prize we have at the big, that problem prevails to all of us. The moment, at the level of production that the comes from Congresses of the three question of fear and swamping as you have organisations. fanners are coming through, they are break• said, is bom out of lack of trust. But we, ing even, yes. from our union point of view are very clear. QUESTION: This is interesting you say the We realize the importance and resources that farmers are one and yet the leaders are QUESTION: You are Chairman of the joint are within the commercial farmers but working as three, three leaderships per Presidency, that is the joint presidency of equally, the commercial fanners realise that group. three fanning organisations. What is our resilience, and we have been able to preventing the final merger? ANSWER: Farmers are one in that they want stand the way we did, from 1925 to 1980, to resolve their problems from the context ANSWER: There are a number of problems we must be having an input. And we can of a farmer. And the formation of one un• that come before us and we worked through help each other by interacting and cross pol• ion is what has to be resolved. •

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16 ZIMBABWE NEWS OCTOBER, 1988 National Farmers Association of Zimbabwe Reports on Communai Agricuiturai Output

Gpvvmnwnt ancouragM groundnuts production

he results of last season's harvest in not measure the overall production which which carry all the relevant contractual de• Zimbabwe were very encouraging includes retentions for some crops, its be• tails which will bind the transporter and the T especially the contribution from the haviour over a period of time reflect what fanner together. The resultant obligation communal farmers. Apart from the fact that is happening to overall total production. will have to be fulfilled by all parties. nearly 75 per cent of communal lands lie in The most popular crops produced by com• natural regions IV and V which are ill-suited The current transport crisis was inevita• munal fanners in Zimbabwe as mentioned to dryland cropping and farmers have to rely ble due to the bumper harvest but what has before is maize, which is the staple food and solely on rain fed crops, the harvest tended to aggravate the whole situation is cash crops like cotton and sunflower. however, has been exceptionally gOod es• the fact that quite a very large number of Although groundnuts are among the highest pecially during the last season as these communal farmers are not registered with paying cash crops, it is evident by the total figures indicate: any union or association. This then causes production figures that farmers tend to shy problems because marketing of their away from producing this crop because it produce is not properly coordinated. We do is labour intensive. The other contributing welcome the arrangement by Government Crop Tonnage factor to the low production of groundnuts to involve the Ministry of Transport in the (Thousand) is the scarcity of the seed. Maize 86/87 634 process of trying to transport farmers' produce before the rains. Estimated 87/88 " 733 Producer Prices and Transport Groundnuts 86/87 10 It is indeed true that farmers voiced dissatis• In order to further increase production by Estimated 87/88 11 faction over the price of maize. As an as• communal farmers there is need to make sociation for communal farmers we feel it available more information on various Cotton 86/87 134 is important to mention that our total produc• research canied out at the research stations Estimated 87/88 160 tion figures for maize this season illustrate in Zimbabwe so that our fanners can grow Sunflower 86/87 17,5 that our farmers are ever increasing their the right crop suitable to the agro-ecological Estimated 87/88 43 hectaiage under maize. This they have con• region they reside in. tinued to do despite the erosion of the They must put to optimum use the advise Rapoko 86/87 31 producer prices by the expensive input costs. given to them by the Agritex officers at their Estimated 87/88 28,4 The NFAZ will continue negotiating, on be• disposal. In other words communal farm• half of its members, for a more competitive ers should adopt the modem scientific producer price for maize because we rea• In assessing the performance of the com• methods of fanning that will help them in• lise its importance to the well-being of Zim• munal sector, data is taken for the above crease their yeilds per hectare. Farming in• babwe as a nation. mentioned major crops of maize, cotton, oil• puts must be made available to the fanners seeds and small grains. It is important here Regarding the transport issue, the NFAZ well before the rains and finally transport to note that production data is not readily makes arrangements of marketing fanners charges have to be brought down to reasona• available and marketed output has been used produce very early during the year. To this ble levels that will leave the fanner with a to reflect this performance. Though this does effect, the Head Office distributes forms reasonable profit margin. •

I ZIMBABWE NEWS OCTOBER, 1988 17 Agriculture to remain baclcbone of Country's Economy Adapted from the "Manica Post" 16/09/88

tensive production techniques such as horticulture. Output in commercial, small-scale and communal sub-sectors will grow at differ• ent rates. In communal and resettlement areas, says the Report, output is projected to grow at an average rate of 7 to 8 per cent per year over the Plan period while output in small and large-scale commercial areas is expected to grow at 5 to 6 per cent and 3 to 4 per cent respectively on the basis of current trend. Report The report says that maize output is expected to increase and stabilise at 3,5 million tonnes by 1990 and wheat output is expected to reach 275 000 tonnes in the same year. Of the total maize output of 3,5 million tonnes, about 2,4 million tonnes with be produced by communal and resettled farm• ers, with the remainder produced by com• mercial farmers. PMsant d*llv«rtM to th« GMB Ineraas* While productivity in communal and resettlement areas will have risen by the end of the Plan period (1,75 tonnes per hectare), griculture, the backbone of Zim• Peasant farmers have been growing in im• it will still be far below that of commercial babwe's economy, will remain the portance in the production of key crops such farms (4,75 tonnes per hectare) dominant sector in the country, ac• as maize and cotton which had been the do• cordinAg to the first Five-Year National De• main of large-scale commercial farmers pri• Due to the drought which caused water velopment Plan. or to Independence. shortages for irrigation, wheat production declined to 99 000 tonnes in 1984. In 1985, This is borne by the fact that more than Before Independence the peasant sub- because of good rainfall, producer price and 70 per cent of the population lives in rural sectors delivery of maize to the Grain Mar• the re-introduction of the irrigation fund, areas and their main source of livelihood is keting Board never exceeded 80 000 tonnes wheat production reached a level of 215 000 fanning, says the first volume of the per year. tonnes of which about 200 000 tonnes came 1986/90 plan. In 1985, however, peasant delivery to the from the large-scale commercial sector and the remaining 15 000 tonnes from the small- In addition, the growth of the economy GMB accounted for about 45 per cent of to• scale sector. is largely conditioned by the performance tal maize delivery to the GMB. Delivery of the agricultural sector, which, in addi• from communal and resettlement areas for It. is estimated that to attain self- tion to providing more than 90 per cent of 1985/86 is estimated at 1,7 million tonnes sufficiency, the area under wheat cultivation the food requirements of the Zimbabwean or 57 per cent of total delivery. should be increased from 42 000 hectares society accounts for 11 per cent of total mer- by 1990, while the average yield is assumed chanise exports. In the 1984/85 period, small-scale com• to remain at about 5 tonnes per hectare says mercial farmers, communal farmers and the report. Due to the agricultural sector's dominance ARDA produced 150 000 tonnes of cotton, in the economy, good performance of the or 47 per cent of total output. The planned level of wheat production sector in the 1984/85 season has led to sig• will enable the importation of wheat which nificant economic recovery which in return in the two years amounted to over 100 000 During the Plan period, agricultural out• has made it possible for Zimbabwe weather tonnes. the effects of the \Vorld economic recession put is expected to grow at five per cent an• and the three-year drought. nually. This^is well above the average rate During the Plan period, the Government of projected population growth of 2,76 per will also take measures to promote irrigat• Between 1979/80 And 1984/85, the cent. This level of output will enable the ed cultivation in communal areas. These will volume of agricultural production increased country to increase its export of agricultur• change the regulations that now govern the at an average annual rate of 4,5 per cent, al products by 6 and 7 per cent annually and national irrigation fund to make funds more a rate well above the population growth. also to increase the processing of agricul• readily available to peasant farmers. tural raw materials. \Of great significance, says the report, is Cotton production is expected to increase the rapid transformation of rural areas that It is projected that over the Plan period, to about 460 000 tonnes by 1990 on an en• has been taking place since Independence as employment in the sector will increase at an larged area of about 275 000 hectares. a result of deliberate ochestrated Govern• average annual rate of 2,2 p-.M cent. This will While the commercial sector is expected to ment Policy. occur mainly in sub-sectors using labour in• maintain its present level of production and

18 ZIMBABWE NEWS OCTOBER, 1988 up services such as "green houses" colling rooms, quarantine and supply of plant materials. The development of horticulture will lead to expansion of packaging, canning and other small-scale industries which will promote industrial decentralisation and ex• pand the material production industries of economy. Agriculture — The Base of Economy Crops such as Kiwis avocadoes, mangoes, paw paws, granadillas, mecadenium nuts, pliuns and almonds have great export poten• tial. Mulberry cultivation provides good scope for expansion, says the report. According to the 1982-83 census, the na• tional cattle herd is about 5,6 million. Small-holder farmers, mainly in com• munal areas own about 61 percent of the cat• tle herd while large scale commercial farm• ers own 39 percent. The size of the small holder herd has flactuated rather dramati• cally in the past. ZlRilubwv " biMKibMkM of Africa The report says that it grew from an esti• mated 1,8 million in 1%5 to 3,6 million in area planted of 170 000 and 75 000 hectares Tea and coffee are increasingly becom• 1977 but declined firstly during the war as respectively, it is projected that communal ing important crops in the agricultural sec• a result of tick-borne diseases and again dur• fanners, small-scale coimnercial farmers tor. In 1984, combined export was $55 mil• ing the ensuing droughts of 1982 and 1983 and ARDA will increase output to about lion or 3,5 per cent of the total exports. which resulted in the death of mainy heards 230 000 tonnes. of livestock. The report further says that there is poten• Indications are that an increased quantity tial for more development of these two crops In view of the fact that most of the small of cotton lint will be used locally in the tex• using local technology and research which animals are owned by peasant farmers, pro• tile industry. Cotton lint will remain an im• makes possible high productivity and com• motions and expansion of this sub-sector portant export item, accounting for seven petitiveness on the world market. could form an important part of the strate• percent of the total output of cotton. gy for rural development. Both industries are labour-intensive, Zimbabwe's main export markets are in providing employment for nearly 20 000. Zimbabwe produces about 215 OCO tonnes Europe where new spinning techniques are The sugar industry which accounts for 3,9 of meat, mostly beef and 370 million litres developing finer, stronger and longer sta• of milk with a combined value of about $420 percent of the total experts will continue to ples than was previously produced. million. face problems on the world market. The Consequently, the Cotton Marketing Government will continue studies for an ex• This is almost half of the total agricultur• Board and the research institutes will have pansion of the sugar-based ethanol produc• al income, says the report. Part of the meat to be engaged in developments which should tion which can be used both as fuel and also production is exported and if Zimbabwe suc• enable Zimbabwean farmers to produce the as a basic chemical. ceeds in exporting the projected 8 100 right type of cotton to meet the needs of cus• tonnes of meat (100 million) to the EEC, this Two other crops for which there is room tomers in the overseas spinning mills. would help in establishing the long-term ex• for further expansion, says the report are port market and contribute significantly to Zimbabwe's "golden leaf, tobacco, the soya beans and sunflower. Soya beans are the country's balance of payments. country's number one earner of foreign cur• produced mainly by large-scale commercial rency, has a good potential for further ex• farmers while sunflower is grown mainly in Dairy production, which is dominated by pansion. Export of tobacco accounts for one communal areas where it has a promising / the commercial sub-sector, has made signifi• fifth of the country's merchandise exports future. cant progress. Milk deliveries to the Dairy and generates 50 percent of Zimbabwean Marketing Board grew from 98 million to The latter crop is resistant to drought and agricultural exports. 198 million litres per year between 1968 and is important as a cash crop. To meet the 1985. rapidly growing demand for vegetable oil Plans to Boost the Country's Economy and the raw material requirements of the The good prospects for further expansion of Production trends, says the report, indi• stockfeed industry, the Government will en• Zimbabwe's tobacco production are based cate that growth has been adequate to cater courage and support production of these two^ on promising forecasts of world market in for the population. crops. ^ which the country stands firmly as the third Production of oven-ready broilers in the largest exporter with a 15,4 percent share Zimbabwe has poteiitial for expansion on poultry sub-sector declined by 924 000 or following the United States, (22,3 percent) many others agricultural produce such as 13 percent in 1984 compared with 1983. and Brazil (21,8 percent). sorghum, mhunga and rapoko which are This was the first decline in more than 10 drought-resistant. years and was a reflection of accumulated In addition, the Zimbabwean tobacco problems connected with rising costs and production is well-organised and is support• Horticultural crops account for about nine price control. ed by advanced indigenous technology and percent of agricultural output. According to research. the Plan, these include mostly fruits and A comprehensive national programme vegetables. During the 1986-90 period, According to the Plan, the Government that focuses on the problems of high popu• horticulture will be promoted. The strategy will encourage and support new small-scale lation growth in communal areas will be im• is intended both to widen employment op• tobacco growers in communal and resettle• plemented during the Plan period. portunities throughout the year and to in• ment areas. The acute shortage of extension crease exports. Such a programme will include stock con• services for tobacco growers will be reme• trol, better land management and de- died during the 1986 -90 period. Horticultural production will need back stocking where necessary, says the report. •

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ZIMBABWE NEWS OCTOBER, 1988 21 If the Hungry could eat Words . . By Dennis T. Rwafa

Adapted from Masvingo Provincial Star 16/09/88

Eight years ago, OAU Heads of States and Government adopted the Lagos Plan of Action. They stated categorically, that member states should, as a matter of urgency, take steps to adopt a coherent national food security programme.

t was emphasised that national policies can drought and famines which have, time ing surpluses is mainly because the Govern• must be translated into concrete action and again, hit news headlines the world ment actively supports the peasant farmer I such as early construction of storage over, are not simply caused by lack of rain• by making available credit facilities and a facilities, creation of grain reserves, im• fall, neither are they sudden natural dis• network of extension services and research prove grain stock arrangements^, better fore• asters. They are the end results of a long de• facilities. casting and early warnings systems. terioration in the ability of Africans to feed Former Agricultural Minister, Mr. Den• themselves, a decline caused by mistakes nis Norman, maintained: "No country's and mismanagement from within and out• There were also very ambitious recom• agricultural industry anywhere in the world side the continent. mendations like setting up an African Food can operate unless one has back-up services Relief Support with a view of supporting ail• From outside, Africa has been invaded by and structures. You've got to have a fairly ing member stales. a swarm of chancers and opportunistic pun• organised research system, extension serv• That was in 1980 and as the eight years dits ready to fleece Africa, by providing bo• ices and financial arrangements. This is dragged on slowly, it is intriguing to note gus advisory services. A spokesman for the where we have the advantage over most that hardly any of those intelligent recom• United Nations Office for emergency oper• third-world countries, particularly the rest mendations and suggestions were ations in Africa summed it up: "Africa's of Africa because our system works". biggest problem is too many people going implemented. President Mugabe, who officially opened round the continent with solutions to the conference, felt that political commit• Why? Is it because there is too much problems they don't understand. Many of ment and support by governments at the tongue-wagging at the expense of real work, the solutions are halfbacked. Some Africans highest level was required tONfacilitate the hard work and soiling hands? A BBC tele• also don't understand African problems". vision commentary in 1985 ran like this: "If development of concrete plans and strate• the hungry could eat words, Africa could The World Bank Senior Vice President, gies to improve food and nutrition in Africa. recover". Ernest Stem, echoed the same sentiments in the book "Africa in Crisis": "We have Dire Straights Another expert, former Secretary General failed in Africa, along with everybody else. "There is certainly no dearth of ideas on of the OAU Mr. Edem Kodjo, told a group We have not fully understood the problems. food and nutrition security. However, what of African leaders in 1978: "Africa is dy• We have not identified the priorities nor may be lacking is the translation of many ing. If things continue as they are, only eight designed the projects to fit". declarations into implementable plans ap• or nine of the present countries will survive propriate to our countries' needs and cir• the next few years. All other things being cumstances", said President Mugabe. Overdrawn equal, absolute poverty, instead of decline Lack of effective supportive veld manage• is likely to gain ground. It is clear that the While Zimbabwe enjoys food self- ment strategies to combat famine ftirther ex• economy of our continent is lying in ruins. sufficiency, other countries are in dire acerbate the problems. According to vete• Our continent is lying on the brink of straights, thus making it imperative for all ran journalists arid author Llyod Timberlake disaster". African countries to implement, without de• in his book 'Africa in Crisis': "Africa has lay, the African Priority Programme for taken too much from its land. It has 'over• Economic Recovery (1986 - 90) which was Alarmist drawn its environmental accounts and the adopted at the 21st extra-ordinary session On balance, the former OAU executive rest for much of Africa is environmental of Heads oCStates and Government of OAU sounded like an alarmist given that we have bankruptcy'. the implementation of which the focus of the United Nations General Assembly was on survived to this day, but his warning was "As the soil erodes, so does Africa's liv• the Critical Economic Situation in Africa, essentially correct given whole populations ing standards. Just as the rural peasant ex• held in New York in 1986. nearly decimated or marginalised by drought ists daily on a hand-to-mouth basis, so does and famine in the Sahel region. his Government plagued by low commodi• Unless and until governments adopt the The General Secretariat of the OAU in ty prices, high interest rates and debts which political will advocated by President their report to the third Africa Food and are huge in proportion to foreign exchange Mugabe, and until there is a "change of Nutrition Congress held in Harare (recent• earnings", wrote Timberlake. heart" by donor agencies and global finan• cial institutions like the arrogant Paris Club, ly) aptly laments the deteriorating food sit• During the third African Food and Nutri• uation in Africa. The number of mal- the malnutrition death-march proceeds tion Congress in Harare, distinguished nou(ished people in Africa has remained dis• un-abated. resource persons unanimously showered turbingly high, around 70 million, meaning Hear the sad analysis of one relief wor• praise to Zimbabwe for its agricultural that out of every seven people in Africa, one ker in the Sahel region: "Starve the city policies. of them is close to starvation. dwellers and they riot; Starve the peasants The secret of Zimbabwe's success as net and they die. If you were a politician which It is therefore instructive to note that Afri• food producer in Africa and a nation enjoy• would you choose". •

22 ZIMBABWE NEWS OCTOBER, 1988 Gwebi College's Role in Zimbabwean Agriculture By Final year students M. Makombe, J. Mabhena and J. Hofisi

webi College staff and students nicates with the outside world. Each student major focal points like the Tobacco Sales warmly congratulate His Excellen• in the fmal year is required to prepare and Floor, the largest in the world, and the G cy the President R.G. Mugabe for present in front of seasoned agriculturalists, agricultural show. At such places students winning the Africa Prize for leadership for a Land Use Planning Project. Inevitably ev• are not only able to discuss points of interest the Sustainable End of Hunger. The whole ery student is made to make an in depth with farmers who are already in the field but farming community, communal, small study of a farm situation. This involves ask• and even made to appreciate the role agricul• scale, co-operative aijd commercial deserve ing for information from farmers, the Agri- ture is playing in foreign currency genera• to be thanked, not forgetting the Agro- tex personnel and various agricultural or• tion and employment creation thus the need Industries and various Research Services ganisations. The information mainly pertains for hardwork on their part as farmers to up• who give the necessary technical backing to how a student can go about gathering in• lift the economy of the country. without which the Agricultural industry formation to come up with suggestions and To the successful graduates of Gwebi would collapse. proposals for increased productivity and soil doors are open for job opportunities as Farm and water conservation'recommendations. Assistant managers, Research technicians. It is needless to mention that the success Some of the proposals made by the students Sales representatives. Project co-ordinators, achieved so far is not the end of the road. to the farmers concerned are viable. Thus Agritex officers are also becoming teachers. Rather, this calls for all concerned, from the a team spirit between experienced farmers As we write, our aim is to become farm• policy maker to the general hand in the field, and would-be farm managers increase and ers. However, we still need to ftirther our to forge ahead co-operatively increasing so does production. productivity to meet not only the food re• studies through the University and the quirements of our growing population, but Tobacco Training Institute but financial hic• also to be able to maintain our food securi• cups are a stumbling block and we will be ty position in the SADCC region. More em• Practicals glad to talk to anybody or organisation will• While some students go back to farms on ployment opportunities will be created as ing to help us financially in order for us to holidays, a number of them are attached to well. achieve our goal^. companies that are involved in agriculture. Still on employment, it is essential to real• These include Zimbabwe Leaf Tobacco It goes without saying that Gwebi has not ize that skilled and qualified personnel is a Company, Farmec, Tinto Industry, the only groomed new agriculturalists but has vital component for the survival of any in• Grain Marketing Board, the Agricultural also made links between the would-be farm• dustry, whether manufacturing, mining and Engineering Institute, the Agricultural and ers and the practising farmers for closer co• indeed agriculture. Gwebi is one of the two Rural Development Authority only to men• operation and exchange of ideas. Hopeful• colleges that offer the two-year National tion a few. It is through this vital co• ly the high standards set by those who made Diploma course in Agriculture. Formerly a operation between the college and these or- and still make what Gwebi is today will be government farm, Gwebi was established • anisations that students are exposed to other maintained by the ftiture generations. • into a training centre in 1950. Having rea• lised the importance of a formal training, the farmers and government pulled their resources together and established the col• lege. Until 1980, the college catered for male whites only. Thanks to the new government, 1980 marked a new era on equality. Eight black students were enrolled.

With a two year full time study programme fifty percent practical and fifty percent theory, added to a ten month pre- college practice, a Gwebi graduate is able to virtually take over a large scale commer• cial enterprize and run it. The current train• ing syllabus is divided into four major dis• ciplines; Farm management, Anirftal Hus• bandry, Field Husbandry and Agricultural Engineering. Seminars, tours and visits by students to various farms and Agricultural institutes also help widen students" under• standing. External lecmrers frequent the col• lege, some organisations donate and spon• sor students by means of the awards present• ed on the ceremonial days, the Diploma Day. It is mainly through the farm manage• Owcbl staff and studanu planting traas to aatabUsli tha Samora Machal plantation ment department that the college commu- on the day tha lata Prasldant was burlad

ZIMBABWE NEWS OCTOBER, 1988 23 Gwebi Agricultural College By B. Maphosa (Principal)

webi is one of the only two agricul• tural colleges in Zimbabwe which G offer the National Diploma in Agriculture. This is a general course which includes Crop Husbandry, Animal Husban• dry, Agricultural Engineering and Farm Management.

Brief History Although Gwebi Agricultural College was started as early as 1950, it is not known to many blacks because it was a college for whites only right up to National Indepen• dence in 1980. He first eight black students were enrolled in September 1980. Today, eight years after independence and as would be expected, the college's enrolment is predominantely made up of black students but the other races are still very welcome and represented.

Enrolments Up to now the college had places for a total of only 80 student^ which means that we en• rolled 40 students per year for the two-year diploma course. These were all males. However readers will be pleased to know that as from September 1989, our enrolment will increase to 60 students per year which will give us a total of 120 students. This number will now include female students. This expansion as well as the introduction StudMtts dahomlng • calf during an animal huabi Iry practical of women has been made possible by a USAID funded expansion of the hostel and 3. Agricultural Engineering includes basic 2. Research teaching facilities which are currently physics, tractor power, farm The Department of Research and underway. machinery, surveying, irrigation and Specialist Services employs our diplo• building. mats as research technicians. Entrance Qualifications 4. Farm Management covers Farm 3. Agri-business representatives We require a minimum of 5 'O' level credit records. Accounts, Marketing, soil These work for companies which passes which mxisX include Science (both bi• conservation and Land Use Planning. produce agricultural inputs such as fer• ological and i^ysical). Mathematics and En• The Course mixes both theory and prac• tilizers, crop chemicals, veterinary glish. With the very large numbers of quali• tice in equal proportions. Our aim is to medicines and farm machinery. fied candidates every year, the competition produce a man or woman who understands 4. Commercial farming even from candidates with 'A' level has be• why and how things haf^n and who is able Many diploma holders work on the come very stiff. As a result we tend to en• to do various farm practical skills with farms as assistant managers, managers rol candidates with better subject grades his/her own hands. and later on as owners of farms. . such as A and B. In addition, and after selec• 5. Project OfHcer tion, each candidate has to spend one year These are employees of a number of on an approved farm before he/she enters Opportunities for Employment organisations involved in rural d^ college. The national Diploma in Agricultue course velopment projects in the provinces and is fairly broad and all encompassing in ord• districts. The Course Content er to cater for a wide spectrum of job op• Although Gwebi Agricultural College ca• There are four major subject areas namely :- portunities. It must be emphasised however, tered for a small section of the white com• 1. Field Husbandary which includes soil that given the present economic climate, jobs munity for over 30 years up to 1980, today science, botany and the husbandry of are not guaranteed. Examples of possible the college has diversified both its curricu• various crops such as maize, soya be• work areas are given below :- lum and clientele to include the majorily of ans, tobacco, cotton, groimdnuts, sor- people and farming systems in Zimbabwe. glium, field beans, fruit and vegetables. 1. Extension Service We recognise the importance of both small- 2. Animal Husbandry includes Zoology, Agritex is a major employer of diplo• scale farming as well as large scale farm• Anatomy and Physiology, beef and ma holders who work in the provinces ing to produce a surplus to feed our expand• dairy cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, rabbits and districts to advise farmers on cor• ing ,urban populations, and to earn the coun• and poultry. rect fanning practices. try valuable foreign currency. •

24 ZIMBABWE NEWS OCTOBEFt, t988 I

AFC In Bindura — Prospects and Problems FOCUS ON Mashonaland Central

The Agricultural Finance Corporation (AFC) is making tremendous efforts to alleviate the problems of the commlinal and resettlement farmers in Mashonaland Central Province by giving loans which can be repaid after selling their produce to the Grain Marketing Board and Cotton Marketing Board.

ecently Zimbabwe News had an in• terview with Comrade Joseph R Ngwenya, the Provincial Manager of the Agriculture Finance Corporation in Bindura on the successes and problems they are facing. QUESTION: What is the role of the Agricul• tural Finance Corporation in the Province? ANSWER; Our role as a parastatal under the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture and Rural Resettlement is to assist agricultural produc• tion by making loans available for a wide range of activities. We do so by advancing loans to all the farming sectors. The divi• sion which deals with loans for communal farmers is known as the Small Farm Cedit Scheme (SFCS). The scheme has trained staff to provide small scale farmers with services suited to their special needs. QUESTION: What type of loans do you give to the communal and commercial farmers? ANSWER: The AFC will consider applica• tions from fanners registered as producers Tobacco — a spaclalisod crop roqulrinfl good managomant with either the Grain Marketing Board, the Cotton Marketing Board or with a tobacco purchase of farm machinery and equipment, QUESTION: There is this talk that some auction floor. Because there is no security fencing materials and to improve water sup• communal farmers are no longer selling needed for small farm operations, AFC re• plies. These loans are paid yeariy by instal• their crops direct to the Grain Marketing quires applicants to have good fanning ex• ments over a two-to-five year period and Board or Cotton Marketing Board for fear perience, necessary implements and should bear interest applicable from time to time. of repaying their loans. Is this sort of atti• occupy a piece of land capable of produc• Loan repayments are usually made by stop tude rampant in the Province? ing crops. order.' ANSWER: It is a worrying problem that Many communal farmers can meet these We also have long-term loans for the pur• farmers are having to side-market in order requirements and are therefore, able to ap• chase of land and for its development. to avoid repaying loans. We think this ply for either short-term or long-term loans. threatens the viability of the Corporation. On behalf of the Government, we ad• Should this trend continue unabated, the spe• Shon-term loans are mostly for crop • minister the National Farm Irrigation Fund cial scheme under which we loan to the production expenses, and cover the cost of (NFIF). This is for the development of irri• peasants is bound to collapse and the results seed, fertilisers, crop chemicals, crop spray• gation infrastructure. would be that they will be back to the situa• ing equipment, crop packaging and so forth. Our loans attract 13 percent interest but tion where their production will be insignifi• Such loans must be repaid by December the National Farm Irrigation Fund charges cant. This has political, social and economic 31 each year and bear interest which varies interest of 8.75 percent. implications in that there will be no farm in• from time to time. Borrowers must provide come to communal lands and resettlement QUESTION; Do you have loans to give the AFC with a first priority stop order areas. This will force people to flock into peasants who want to grow tobacco? . against their crop proceeds. Other methods the towns and cities in search of work. ANSWER: Yes. Tobacco is a specialised of repayment may be negotiated under spe• crop which requires good management and We can, as an institution, only persuade cial circumstances. we therefore urge the peasant fanners to farmers to pay their dues as there is no tan• Medium-tenji loans are available for the liaise closely with Agritex officials. gible or collateral security. At this moment,

ZIMBABWE NEWS OCTOBER, 1988 25 we are considering suing some defaulters. the AFC for the whole group. The commit• ANSWER: Bindura is the Provincial Head• The long-term solution lies in a motivated tees will then be responsible for distribut• quarters. We have two branches in Bindura and responsible peasantry who appreciate ing the loan to all group members, keeping which in turn control three other offices in the consequences of honouring their due. a record of what each member owes and be Mvurwi, Guruve and Mt. Darwin. The AFC This could be achieved, may be, by a com• responsible for ensuring that members com• employs credit assistants who live and work bined effort of Government organs involved bine their marketing activities to ensure that in communal areas together with the farm• in rural development: councillors, members the group loan is paid in fiiU. ers. Credit officers and their assistants have of parliament and community leaders — QUESTION: Besides the problem outlined a special responsibility of advising farmers condemning the practice of side-marketing. above, what other problems do you face in on how to get loans. The corporation encourages small-scale executing your work? QUESTION: It is also known that communal farmers who need loans to form themselves ANSWER: Farming is becoming more and farmers are not interested in taking the Na• into groups of between 20-30 members. more of a serious business where the inves• tional Farm Irrigation Fund. Can you com• Each group should select a committee and tor must calculate the viability of his ment on this? choose a name to identify itself. The com• programmes prior to embarking on them. ANSWER: The irrigation scheme fund has mittee will have a special responsibility of We have a number of farmers who are not not been very popular with the communal directing the activities of the loan group and making profits. Some of them do not con• farmers not because tliey don't like it but if necessary, make decisions on its behalf. sult Agritex officials for technical advice and because of the conditions attached to it. The The group is expected to attend meetings go blindly into the business. AFC only provides pipes used to irrigate the where members will submit their loan ap• land. Another Government Department or QUESTION: Do you think the objectives of plications. Communal farmers who do not donor agency has to provide pipes from the join a group may find difficulties in having the parastatal (AFC) are being achieved in the Province? Dam to the irrigated land. This sort of thing an application for loans accepted. has caused a lot confusion among the com• ANSWER: Certainly, we are succeeding. Be• munal fanners resulting in the irrigation loan The committee is expected to ensure that fore independence the communal land farm• scheme being overlooked. all group members use their loans correct• ers and small-scale farmers used to produce ly and to report to the AFC staff on the lev• very little. Their production was insignifi• QUESTION: You have recently moved into el of crop production achieved by each cant. After the introduction of the credit fa• this new office block. How do you find work• group. Group members will market their cilities, the peasantry is producing 50 per ing in such a ntodem building? produce individually and the conmiittee cent of the marketed grains and cotton. The ANSWER: This is really a beautiftil building. should ensure that everyone within the group commercial farming sector continues to We are very grateful for the new building. markets correctly in order to pay loan diversify its agricultural production with our We came here on September 1, 1988 and accounts. active assistance. started fiill operations on September 12, It is planned that as the groups become QUESTION: Do you have officers who work 1988. We are now within easy reach of our better organised, the committee will even• directly with the people or are you all based farmers particularly the peasants. We hope tually be able to submit one application to in Bindura? this will improve communication. •

Agricultural Production in Bindura District FOCUS ON Mashonaland Central

n an interview with Zimbabwe News, the District Administrator for Bindura, I Comrade DC. Munyoro, said that his district was agriculturally expanding well despite a few problems which, with the con• certed efforts of the Povo, would be ironed out soion. The call by Govenunent to decrease maize production in favour of oil seeds was received with mixed feelings in the district. Since maizejs the staple crop in this coun• try, there is still greater emphasis on grow• ing it. However, there are indications that the message to increase oil seed production is getting on to the people as shown by the increased production of groundnuts and sunflowers. There is a bumper harvest in the district this season. In all the places that the crew of Zimbabwe News visited, the communal fanners were busy ferrying their crops to the Grain Marketing Board and the Cotton Cash shortaga Inhibits ttia purchaaa of grain hags

26 ZIMBABWE NEWS OCTOBER, 1988 Marketing Board. Crops have done well par• Another alternative is to order grain bags major role in educating the people on the ticularly maize, cotton and sunflowers. through the Co-op Union which then distrib• importance of repaying the loans. ute them to members. The majority of the Although Bindura District is not a tobac• peasants are ignorant about the services While the $195 per tonne of maize was co growing region, a few communal farm• offered by the co-op unions. ers have started to grow both burley and Vir• well come by the povo, the general feeling ginia tobacco. It is encouraging to note that among the farmers was that it should have On the problem of transport, the district been raised to match the increases in inputs. few peasants who ventured in this lucrative administrator said that they were tiying their tobacco business have reported high yields. best to ease the shortage of transport in the From the look of the things, it is hoped that District. "We have made available to the Other problems many peasant fanners will,start growing farmers all the Government vehicles that are There are a number of problems being cur• tobacco soon. within our reach. Even then, we are not cop• rently faced by the farmers in the district. ing up. At this stage it is difficult to tell One of the difficulties is the delay still be• Problems of grain bags whether by the end of the season every crop ing experienced in receiving cheques from Comrade Munyoro explained that many would have gone to the Grain Marketing the Grain Marketing Board ai^ Cotton Mar• peasant farmers have been unable to get Board or Cotton Marketing Board" he said. keting Board. Secondly, there is the problem grain bags from the Grain Marketing Board of tillage where farmers would prefer to use because officials of that parastatal are He added that they had instructed the col• tractors. Although the Ministry of Local demanding hard cash. This has been caused lection points and the Grain Marketing Government, Rural and Urban Development by certain farmers who have not paid for the Board to operate over the weekend in an ef• provided tractors; there is ? lot of break• grain bags given on credit. fort to beat the oncoming early October rains. downs resulting in the majority of the trac• To solve the problem, the National Farm• tors being grounded. ers' Association of Zimbabwe (NFAZ) has It was also disclosed that in discussion resorted to giving grain bags to groups of with officials fiwm the Agricultural Finance Both the communal #id commercial farm• farmers who in turn choose a chairman to Corporation (AFC) it surfaced that most of ers have not heeded the Government's call represent them. The reason for using groups the peasants were not repaying their loans. for closer co-operation between then&elves. is mostly to ensure accountability. The The long-term solution to this problem is for However, one or two commercial farmers Chairman is accountable to the Grain Mar• the AFC officials to liaise closely with Agri- have gone a long way to establish bilateral keting Board. He ensures that every mem• tex officials who know better the agricul• relationships with neighbouring conmiunal ber within the group sells products through tural problems faced by theiJeople in the dis• farmers. In one incident, a commercial the Grain Marketing Board or Cotton Mar• trict. Developmental structure such as the farmer donated a bull to a village for the pur• keting Board. VIDCOs and WARDCOs should play a pose of cross-breeding. •

Chlpadze — A Model of a Successful Creche

FOCUS ON Mashonaland Central

after 100 young children but has at the mo• ment only 80. The children at the Centre, who range from three to six-year-olds, are being ex• posed to enriching and rewarding ex• periences which form quite an excellent foundation for formal school. Pre-school education forms the foundation of the phys• ical and mental development of a child and such developmental activities have to be well-organised and co-ordinated. Comrade Robert Kambewu, the suburb manager for Chipadze High-density suburb explained that the idea of having a creche was as the result of the Government's call to improve the lives of children — the lead• ers of tomorrow. "In an effort to keep hundreds of young children off the streets and introduce them to what is almost a right to their counter• parts in the low-density suburbs, we had to embark on this ambitious programme. The ChlMran Mng axposMi to pr»«ehool Mirlehiiig cxpMlMicM programme is now beginning to pay divi• dends", he said. t a glance it is the perfect pre>school Play centre in Bindura is a spacious and airy Staff A play centre for the little angels. Built building fiimidted to match any modem pie- The play centre has a staff of six. Three of over a 1,6 hectares stretch of land, Ch^ndze school in Zimbabwe. It is big enough to look the staff are teachers, two cooks and one

ZIMBABWE NEWS OCTOBER, 1988 27 groundsman. The majority of the staff has been trained in running pre-schools. Com• rade A. Mambinge, who is the welfare officer of Chipadie High-density suburb said that Comrade Dorothy Chitumba, Supervi• sor of the creche, did an advanced course in the running of pre-schools at the Early Learning Centre in Chitungwiza near Ha• rare. She can train others. The council al• lows the staff to go for refresher courses. The fee for each child has been raised from $60 to $105 per term because of the rising cost of living.

Activities The activities are varied: They are mainly academic and the unique pre-school course is designed for the development of the child. "We aim to develop the child socially, emotionally and academically so that he/she will be a useful citizen tomorrow," said Comrade Robert Kambewu. For intellectual development, teachers and ChHdran — useful citlmw of tomorrow children make books and other things that stimulate the children's minds. Play equip• break they are provided with one egg and problems. Commenting on this financial ment such as jigsaw puzzles designed to help mazoe or mahewu. problem Comrade Robert Kambewu said; the children's sense of imagination ate Achievements "We would have wished to run this institu• provided. For social development, the chil• As a result of the establishment of the tion to the highest standard, but because of dren do group work like growing crops in creche, pre-school children are no longer financial constraints we can not do the en• .gardens or making drawings. seen loitering in the streets. Comrade Kam• visaged projects". bewu explained further that they had les• The children have a well balanced diet. sened the burden on mothers who used to Another problem they face is of some The supervisor. Comrade Dorothy Chitum• employ child-minders to keep the children. members of the community who do not un• ba explained that at the 10 o'clock break, In addition, the children are taught the derstand or appreciate the role of creches from Monday to Friday, the children are highest standard of discipline. Follow-up in a community. Some parents do not even given 200 niillilitres of milk and a slice of research on the performance of the centre's attend meetings at the creche. buttered bread. Their lunch is as follows: products show that the children are ahead on Monday they have sadza, meat and of others of the same age at formal school Some children don't come to the centre vegetables; Tuesday — sadza and beans; and usually are at the top of the class. because the parents can't afford the fees. Wednesday — sadza, nyama and potatoes; There is nothing that the Council can do for Thursday — rice and chicken and Friday Problems the parents who do not have money to send sadza, potatoes and meat. At 3.00 p.m. At present they are facing some financial their children to the creche.' •

Communal farmers in Makonde bracing for a rewarding venture FOCUS ON Mashonaland West

he call to increase oil seed produc- ^ transport problems were being experienced tion has been welcomed by the in the district, the communal farmers were T majority of the people in the also partly to blame. Makonde "Even the few lorries that are available, District. The District Administrator for they are not being used as they should be• Makonde, Comrade L.C. Sekeramayi, said cause the farmers are not collectively or• that although the call has been well received, ganized. On one occasion, a communal there were'certain inhibiting factors. He cit• farmer called a ten-toime lorry when he had ed for example dry areas which were not only 15 bags. We therefore urge farmers to suitable for certain types of crops. Although be organised through their councillors", he cottoa is a prominent crop in the area, it said. needs a lot of inputs which the communal farmers can not easily get. At present there is a severe shortage of tyres in the district resulting in a nimiber of The District as a whole had a bumper har• lorries out of the road. In addition spare vest except in the Makonde and Mupfure parts for the lorries cannot be found. In early areas which experienced erratic rainfalls. August there was the problem of queing at Comrade L.C. Sokoramil Comrade Sekeramai said that although the Grain Marketing Board. A lorry could

28 ZIMBABWE NEWS OCTOBER, 1988 that there are low rainfall areas. Irrigation projects have to be introduced so that farm• ers do not suffer from severe droughts.

Although farmers have been urged to join the National Farmers' Association of Zim• babwe (NFAZ) and the Zimbabwe Nation• al Farmers' Union (ZNFU), a few have heeded the call. The reason for not doing so is mere ignorance. It is hoped that through agricultural seminars being held in tfte district, the farmers will be able to un• derstand the importance of joining any agricultural organisation.

According to Comrade Sekeramayi the relationship between commercial farmers and communal farmers is not good especial• ly in border areas where Communal farm• ers have been accused of cutting fences, hunting wild game, killing cattle and trespassing on the commercial farms. Cat• TlwiwtoiMMitolinprovsbusMrvicaIn Makend* DtaMM tle from the communal farmers have been spend three hours in the queue. However, tention. Topping the list is the problem of detained by commercial fanners resulting in this problem has since been solved. draught power. There are very few tractors heated argimients. A number of meetings for ploughing. have been held to iron out the differences Like in all districts, there are a number between the two conmiunities but in vain. of communal farmers who are defaulting in Farmers in Makonde and Mupfure areas paying Agricultural Finance Corporation walk long distances to the nearest bus stop. loans. The Provincial Governor for Roads are also in a poor state particularly The District Administrator however sho• Mashonaland West, Province, Comrade in the rainy season. Although banking fa-. wered praises to one commercial fanner, Mudhomeni Chivende has been notified of cilities are available at Murombedzi Growth Mr. Fraser Mackenzie, who is willing to im• this problem and drastic measures are to be Point, it is the wish of many farmers that part his knowledge on paddocks to the com• taken against defaulters. In future such such facilities should be found in other thriv• munal farmers. Many communal farmers defaulters are not going to get some loans. ing business centres. have welcomed his generous offer. Agritex officers should also be extensively used in order to end this menace. There is also pressure on land particular• The District Administrator concluded by ly in Zvimba and Chirau areas. Resettlement urging farmers in his district to participate Other difflculties efforts should therefore be encouraged in the fully in agricultural production as this was_ Communal farmers in Makonde District two areas. Makonde and Mupfure localities the only way they could uplift their standard have many problems which need urgent at• are found in region 4 and 5 which means of living. •

On Multi-Issues In Mashonaland West FOCUS ON Mashonaland West

n a wide ranging interview with the and PF-ZAPU had been well accepted in the Zimbabwe News, Comrade May ford Province. It has long since been the idea of Mawere who is the Provincial Political ZANU (PF) to unite the people of I Zimbabwe. Commissar of ZANU (PF) in Mashonaland West Province disclosed that despite problems that the party structures are en• Unity will enable Zimbabwe to confront countering in the province he will make sure the chaJUenges of the contemporary situation that the people understand the party line. in Southern Africa. The imperatives of fight• ing South Africa's destabilisation can now His duties as a provincial political com• be fully tackled. Already unity has yielded missar, are to see that the ideology of the the fruits of peace in Matabeleland, which Party, Marxism-Lenninism — is imparted in turn will result in more development in to the people and also to ensure that Govern• agriculture, water development, health care ment and Party structures are correctly and other requirements long cherished by co-ordinated. the masses. "As you are well aware, the Party is the As a united nation, we can now more fully policy-making institution and the Govern• attend to the monster of unemployment now ment is the implementor. This sort of thing — breathing heavy fire on the young nation. has to be followed in the Province'', he said. ConwMto Itayfofd Itawwra UM piovlii- elal political commissar for A properly structured and monolithic party The unity accord between ZANU (PF) Maahdnaland West Provlnca will be able to receive ideas, suggestions and

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30 ZIMBABWE NEWS OCTOBER, 1908 requirements from the grassroots, digest them at higher levels afid formulate s^ys- tematic programmes that can arrest and ul• timately dtal effectively with unemployment. Intergration Process At the time of interview. Comrade Mawere pointed out that the integration between ZANU (PF) and PF-ZAPU had reached ad• vanced stages. According to him, all the five stages of integrating the two political par• ties had been completed. "Now, we are waiting for the 6th stage or phase which is the distribution of the united party cards — the actual process of the merger of the two parties".

to rely on Government transport and al• Province to map out strategies. From this lowances. The other problem was on slo• meeting, we were then supposed to inform gans. Both parties wanted to maintain their the Central Government for assistance," he slogans. However, this problem was solved said. after the top leadership of the parties had in• The Party and the Govenunent have done tervened and it was decided that new slo• a lot to improve Omay District in gans for the purpose of national unit,' should Mashonaland West Province which had been be used. neglected by the past Colonial Governments. College The District now boasts of modem schools, Cde. Mawere went on to say that many roads, clinics and water supply. In terms of youth in the province were eagerly waiting agriculture, they are now growing a varie• for the establishment of the much-talked- ty of crops, something they could not have about Chitepo Ideological College. Youths done eight years ago. Recently a fishing co• are desperately in need of an ideological col• operative was started on the shores of Lake lege. A lot had been said about this College Kariba at Chalala. soon after independence but he could not be According to Comrade Mawere there are drawn to say what the impediments were in two Party districts in the Omay District. The the building of the College. chiefs do accept their role and are participat• On the question of transport problems be• ing fiilly in party politics. The only problem Rewi construction In Omay District ing faced by Communal farmers in ferry• they meet in the District is of language bar• ing their produce to the collection points, rier. The Province is fortunate in that the GMB and CMB, he said the Party structures Deputy Provincial Political Commissar, Cde In the process of integrating the two par• had totally failed'on this problem. Chandege, is able to communicate very well ties in the Province, problems had been en• in Tonga. countered but the Provincial political com-- "It is the duty of the Transport Depart• missar said they had been solved amicably. ment to co-ordinate with Govenmient struc• Lastly, as a political commissar he would The major problem was of transport. No one tures on this aspect. But nothing had been like to see people know both Government offered transport or money for the integra• done so far. The Party was supposed to sit and Party policies as this was the comer- tion exercise. The integration committee had down with Govermnent organs in the stone of national development. •

Fifteen women in Mkoba 9 High Density Suburb of Gweru have set up a thriving cooperative in uni• form and soap making. They are reaping the re• wards of their efforts and have even won the sup• port of the President's wife. Comrade Sally Mugabe who helped them with two electric sewing machines FOCUS ON Midlands handuko Cooperative was formed plagued with unemployment and registered in 1984. An elderiy problems and this is particular• S woman, Mai Mad^mombe, who is ly so as regards the position of also the Treasurer of the Cooperative told women. Zimbabwe is still a Zimbabwe News that the reasons that led to male chauvinist society and the Shanduko the formation of the Cooperative were bas• only way a woman can get em• ically unemployment among the majority of ployment is through the forma• Co-operative the Zimbabwean women and also the deci• tion of cooperatives. We had sion that had been taken by the ZAhfU (PF) to puir our resources together set for a Women's League on the formation of and form a cooperative. We Cooperatives. had no alternative," Mai New Era "Right now Zimbabwe is Madamombe said emotionally.

ZIMBABWE NEWS OCTOBER, 1988 31 Humble Beguming babwe is of poor quality. There is stiff com• daughters who were unable to petition in getting the dye that is imported pass 'O' Level Examinations . The cooperative had a humble beginning. from outside the country. They equally have have now joined us. They can The women contributed a small amount of problems in getting chemicals for now supplement their'O'Lev• money towards the buying of their first sew• soap-making. els because the money is ing-machine. They then went to Mkoba there." Secondary School, Takunda and Kushinga On whether they have good markets for Primary ^hools to discuss the type of uni• their products, the cooperators said that Like any business venture, the coopera• forms preferred by these schools. A well- there are three schools to supply regularly tive has got its own problems. The mem• wisher, a ZANU (PF) Women's League with school uniforms. However, their major bers are yearning to have a sewing machine official accompanied them to Chegutu's problem is stiff competition frwn the long- for zig-zag sewing commonly known as David Whitehead Textile Industries where established enterprises which are charging overlocking sewing machine. Of the two they bought their first cloth. very low prices. Soap and jerseys have a machines that were provided by mat ready market in Mkoba high density suburb. Mugabe, the wife of the President, only one At the initial formative stage of the is functioning. Repairing of sewing cooperative, the co-operators were using a Assistance machines has now become a costly business friend's house for sewing activities. The Government through the Ministry of in Zimbabwe. These cooperators are there• However, the neighbours started complain• Community and Cooperative Development fore appealing to the public for donations ing of the unbearable noise from the and Women's Affairs arranged for some of of some old or new sewing machines. premises. The women were forced to vacate the women to go for specilised courses. As the premises. Then they approached the a result of this initiative by the Government, Another problem they face is of compe• Gweru City Council and were provided with 2 women did a course in tie and dye at Mel- tition from long established businessmen a place to rent. Mai Madamombe had this fort for a year. One completed a four- who sometimes lure away potential to say about the rented premises, months management course at Kushinga- customers. "Half a loaf of bread is better Phikelela near Marondera. Up to now no than none. We have managed one has approached them with sponsorship Allowances to keep our business going in for similar courses. They are eagerly await• Members of the cooperative only get al• this two-roomed house. The ing with open hands for such chances to, lowances at the end of every month. rent of $62,00 per month is no materialise. However, when the going gets tough, they problem to us." do not distribute the allowances. Anyway, In 1985 SEDCO (Small Enterprise De• Successes and Problems it is the policy of the cooperative that at the velopment Co-operation), provided them The achievements that have been registered end of November of every year, they dis• with a loan of $7 000,OO.They hive up to by Shanduko speak for themselves. It has tribute profits equally among all the now repaid half of the loan. a healthy bank account. The cooperators are members. now able to send their children to school — New members are welcome provided they SpedalisirtkHis of the CooperatiTe a thing they could not have done before the are capable of contributing $75,00 as join• The cooperative specialises in uniform and ^rmation of the co-operative. Comrade ing fee. soap making and tie and dye. A group of Stella Mugagara, who is the Secretary of the five women is continually engaged in knit• Cooperative had this to say; Lastly, Shanduko would like to appeal to ting jerseys. The women told Zimbabwe "We can now help our hus• all Zimbabwean women not gainfully em• News that they have problems in getting the bands where financial matters ployed to form cooperatives as this would dye. The dye that is manufactured in Zim- are concerned. Again our help them to solve their problems. •

News in Brief FOCUS ON Midlands

Immunisation — A Success in Zvisluvane District

ver 73 percent of the children under O one year have been immunised against the six-killer diseases since 1982. This was revealed by die community Nursing Officer for Zvidiavane, Sister Mektilda Chimedza, when she was presenting a pi^r at the Mans^onent of Health Services in Rural — District Council areas Workshop which was held at the Zvishavane District Ho^ntal. ^ also disclosed that a survey to establish the e£rectiveness of the expwM programme of immunisation (EPI) was held last year and that Zvisfaavane was well ahead of other Dis- CliHdrwi bMMflt freni luimiiiilsfltlon pfOQnunniM

32 ZIMBABWE NEWS OCTOBER, 1988 tricts in the campaign. Sister Chimedza also ment, Comrade Kumbirai Kangai said the save Save River from siltation. Government would ensure that water applauded members of the Apostolic Church These districts which include Chikomba resources were extensively developed. for co-operating in the programme. She said Council were advised by members from that she did not face any opposition from Comrade Kangai said while people were Agritex and Natural Resources Board that members of this sect and that they were hit by unreliable rainfall leading to low crop people should stay some distances from the bringing their children for immunisation. production and unacceptable per capita in• banks of the rivei" and all developments Traditional midwives within the District come, the State would ensure that under• along the Save River and its catchment area were also praised for co-operating with the utilised land was used productively. He said should stop. The meeting agreed that every District Hospital. Comrade Chimedza said the Government's policy of establishing Council and its Agritex officials should most of'the traditional midwives in the Dis• dams in all provinces was intended to im• launch an awareness campaign to its peo• trict were referring their expectant patients prove the agricultural potential of all ple on the programme of Save the Save to local clinics for regular check-ups and peasants. River from human destruction. The local treatments. She also said the midwives were Member of Parliament of ^uhera. Comrade Although tremendous progress had been also referring mothers whose children were Kumbirai Kangai, strongly advised the Dis• made in some provinces, limited funds and trict Councils to stand firm on the saving of not immunised for iimnunisation at the shortage of manpower were inhibiting fur• the mighty Save River. • clinics. ther development on the construction of She further elaborated that EPI was very dams. successful in the district and that^fheir tar• The dam which has a holding capacity of Resettlement in Full Swing get for immunising all children below one 3,2 million cubic metres was constructed by year by 1989 would be accomplished ahead the Government with a Grant from the Two District Councils in the Midlands of schedule. Netherlands. It will be used for irrigation Province had good news from the Central and fishing. People from Mataga and Chin- Government. Their people were to be reset• goma will be the major beneficiaries of the tled in Mangoni Estate which divides the two project. Councils — Takawira and Chikomba. New Dam for Midlands Chikomba had previously sent 350 people and now it is going to send 165 families. More than 20 000 people in Mberengwa Efforts to Save River from Siltation This has been very good news for the District who have endured spells of drought Province particularly the two districts. On for the past three years will benefit from a Seven districts most of them under the four farms acquired by the state, it is un• multi-purpose dam completed recently. Manicaland Province, few from Masvingo derstood that families will be resettled on Commissioning Biri Dam 230 km south Province and the Midlands held a meeting Model B scheme which is for co-operatives. of Gweru on September 17, the Minister of at Birchenough Bridge. This was the third The co-operatives will be for dairy and Energy and Water Resources and Develop• meeting held at this same venue in order to ranching. •

What's done at Nguboyenja Jairos Jiri Centre in Buiawayo?

FOCUS ON Matabeleland Noith

he Jairos Jiri Centre began its work people can be productive and respectable in in the year 1959 with the closure of whatever way. This earned him the name T the Makokoba Workshops which "The Bulawayo Super Samaritan', or the had started in October, 1952. from a very 'Poor man with a big heart for his small beginning with lots of difficulties. fellowman." This Centre at that time accepted all types Dr. Hugh Ashton was Chairman of the of handicapped of all ages and the main ac• Society, at that time known as the Jairos Jiri tivity was training and production of baskets Society for the Disabled and Blind. and leather crpft goods. Many doctors and surgeons from the New Mpilo Hospital took particular interest in the There was also a school for both blind and new venture. Many black leaders en• disabled, a typing class and a section for the couraged the Society to carry on with the deaf taught by Miss Grace Berry man. good work ahead although little practical or Mr. Nkosenye Kumalo, one of the first financial support was forthcoming. There instructors in leather work was head of the was a lot of goodwill and encouragement for leather section while Mr. J. Jiri was the first the work from most of the people. General Manager and Principal Officer. He A Craft Shop in the Grand Hotpl Build• was a man with a vision for the disabled and ings was the main outlet through which tlje blind. products were sold to raise funds for the run• Mr. Kwenda and Mr. Zharare were as• ning and re-equipment for the training sistant and Secretary respectively. workshops. TiM lata Comrad* Jalros Jiri, MBE, MA (Hons), Feundar Ufa Prasldant of tha Local support for the work of the Associ• Many people visited the new establish• Jtfroa Jiri AsaoctoHon — 2eth Juna 1921 ation was gradually improving. Mr. Jiri wias ment to see the meaning of the Society's ap• — 12th Novambar, 1982 to prove to all Countrymen that the disabled peals. The Late Founder President, Mr.

ZIMBABWE NEWS OCTOBER, 1988 33 Jairos Jiri, soon established an administra• Eye classes and ties of the person who make up the Jairos tion office in the Grand Hotel Building leav• Other prothetic Aids Jiri Centre Staff. Their contribution to the ing Mr. Stephen Kwenda as Manager of the and Limps. progress, their competence and commitment Centre. The new offices were opened for the make life more hopeful to all the clients in purpose of fund raising in the country and Sheltered Work the institution. abroad. There are certain disabled people who are Many of the staff members are disabled The new Jairos Jiri Centre of Nguboyen- unable to get employment in ordinary indus• or were former trainees of the institution. ja, Buiawayo, has now been turned into a tries and other commercial undertakings training institution for all those disabled peo• who have been given some kind of sheltered Sporting and Social Entertainment ple of trainable disposition who will have employment. A start has been made in bringing a variety gone through first primary or elementary They are engaged in contract work j,iven of sporting and social activities at the Centre. education or Secondary and Higher Educa• to the Centre by local factories and indus• tion and who are between the ages of 16 and tries. Most of them work at the Centre while These include football, volley ball, skit• 25, males and females. In this new environ• living outside. The work involves a variety tles, tug of war, netball, mini soccer, draft, ment all the trainees are resident boarders of activities easily done by seated people. table tennis, swimming and many others. at the Centre. Non residents are accepted. Such work is both therapeutic and remuner• The Centre has two television sets and ra• ative leading to financial independence. dio sets in the hostels. Hundreds have gone through this centre Many of them are wheelchair-bound all their There are several choirs and there is also into employment or self-employment after lives. ' a set of Marimba Band: The Choir and the training. The Centre created a new hope and Marimba Band have played at many public encouragement to the disabled to face the The Trainees and Clients functions including the television world with determination. The disabled trainees and inmates of the In• prpgramme — Mvengemvenge. Those who have not been lucky to be em• stitution come from all over the country. ployed in ordinary commerce or industry They come each year with a common goal There is a very strong Girl Guide Move• have found sheltered employment at the to be better citizens and neighbours in ord• ment at the centre and Scouts Movement has Centre. This is however not encouraged so er to contribute in their own way in the de• been formed as well. it turns to be encouraging institutionaliza• velopment of the Nation and Country. There are two Sporting Clubs at the tion of disabled people. Some of their han• Centre where the aim is to improve on the dicap is such that there are a number of They learn that love, understanding, toler• inmates social life. difficulties making them need assistance all ance and team work are the norms of their lives. progress and social life. Friends In their varying disabilities; blind, deaf, The Centre as a Charity Organisation relies At present there are 172 young men and crippled and so on, they all know that these on Public support for the success of its work women in the training section and about 225 disabilities are not inabilities to do better and activities. in the production or sheltered enq>loyment. work for the progress of mankind. They in• Of this total 71 are residents while the re• herited the late founder Mr. Jairos Jiri's The General public is behind the work. mainder live outside the Centre. motto that, "where there is a will there The Centre is in need of support in order Those trained are also encouraged to form should be a way, with the leadership and to have the project and programme co-operatives or assist in fonning these. guidance of the Almighty." successful. The training takes the form of skills train• The deaf are not dumb or mute but un• The Branch Committee of volunteers ing and ada{>tive skills. All the new trainees derstand all the instructions and work as well works hard to help with fiind raising and are selected by an Admission panel. as can be expected. administration. The following are the most common Most of these will have been attending Local authorities and the Government give courses done in two to three years:- their primary rehabilitation at one of the grants towards the running costs but more • Tailoring, Centres of the Jairos Jiri Association scat• is needed to make it a real success. • Carpentry/Woodwork, tered round the country before coming to Volunteers are welcome to work in speci• • Small Ei^ines and Refrigeration Repair, this special/finishing point. They pay a token fied areas to ensure a bright ftiture for the boarding fee of $225,00 per year which is disabled, blind and we need you and all. • Electronic Rq>airs, subject to review by the National body. This can be paid in temily instalments of $75,00 The Branch is still fund raising and do• • Bookkeqting/Secretarial Skills, or in full for the whole year. nations can be sent to:- • Leather Woric/Leatter Ciafl, There is a Trainees Representative body P O Box 7018 • Cane Work, Weaving and Bask^, Mzilikazi • Art Drawing, Sign Writing and Design, whose aim is to advise in the whole task of • Metal Work - Welding. making the institution a success story. BULAWAYO • Telei*onist — Receptionist and Many of the trainees spend months and • Sisal and Mat making. even years in hospital having corrective sur• Disabled trainees learn to develop good gery and then months doing physiotherapy work habits which include taking good care ^[Leaming to walk and use their remaining of tools and equipment and others. or usable limps.) Someone with a heart has Special Services to care. The Editor wishes The centre offers other special services be• The staff members of the Jairos Jiri Centre to inform readers sides the basic skills training for the disa• that they are free bled. Most of the work listed below is done — ^t the Nguboyenja Centre both present and past are drawn to their service by the to open debate in by trained disabled people and new ones are magnetic desire to serve mankind. The Ad• serviced and maintained or made at the ministrators, Secretaries, Training Officers, the column Talking Centre. Boarding Masters, Production Officers, In• Point and on the Provision of: structors, Nurses, Physiotherapists, Super• Letters page. Wheelchairs, visors, Finance Officers, Cooks, Adult Calipers, Literacy Teachers, Security Officers, Hearing Aids, Groundsmen, Public Relations Officer. Walking Aids, These are only a sampling of the varie•

34 ZIMBABWE NEWS OCTOBER, 1988 New Party Structures in Matabeleland North

FOCUS ON By M. McCosh Matabeleland North

n invitation to the first meeting of they justified at Question Time by saymg majority Parties held during April, 1988. the South East Branch of the that the making of any slogan caused Although the two Parties were not of equal A Bulawayo District (both newly dissension. numerical strength nationally, the Task formed Task Force structures) was delivered Force membership, from Poiijburo to by hand to residences and flats in the south• Merge the Masses Branch, was jointly composed of equal num• eastern quarters of the central area of the Comrade F.R. Waniwa, ZANU (PF) Vice- bers from ZANU (PF)and PF-ZAPU. City of Bulawayo recently. There are four Chairman of the Matabeleland North Branch Task Forces in the Bulawayo Province, member of the Provincial Task Ending his speech. Comrade Waniwa em• District. • Force, opened his speech with the statement phasized the Cell-making function of the that there was no need to stress the impor• Branch Task Forces. This, he said, was es• Being so directly and extensively can• tance of the Unity Accord. sential to the successful implementation of vassed, most non-Party residents were im• the Unity Accord. pressed by the vigorous organisation of the He reviewed the historical alliance of the Branch. This initial impression did not ex• two majority parties after the formation of Stating that no local political problem was tend to actual attendance at the meeting. The the Patriotic Front in 1976, and the attempts more important than the attainment of Na• thirty-strong audience which assembled at to co-ordinate the revolutionary armies, tional Unity, Comrade Edson Ncube, PF- the Beit Hall, Milton Junior School, ZANLA and ZIPRA, in the Liberation ZAPU Chairman of Matabeleland North Bulawayo, on the 4th August, seemed to be Struggle. Speaking of the particular politi• Province, concurred with the issues raised confined to Party officials and Civil Ser• cal divisions in Matabeleland after Indepen• in the long speech of Comrade Waniwa. He vants, those already committed to the sup• dence 1980, Comrade Waniwa explained in added that the President of ZANU (PF) and port of Goverrunent policies and under the detail the negative, divisive results of the the Leader of PF-ZAPU were to be con• direction of the two majority Zimbabwean dual-Party confrontation, which robbed gratulated on their joint political wisdom in political parties. Zimbabwe's western , Provinces of the leading the masses to unity after only eight "fruits of Independence" years of Independence. An example to the world of political maturity! In the cold dusk of the evening, the warm• The failure to form a One Party State lead ly wrapped audience sat under two benign the masses into poltical confusion caught as The two Provincial leaders answered photographs of the Executive President of they were between two Parties both profess• many questions all concerned with slogans the Republic of Zimbabwe, Comrade R.G. ing an identical ideology. Lack of clear po• and the new Party Cards. In the main seg• Mugabe, and two sombre portraits of litical direction inevitably led to the civil dis• ment the answers to both questions lay in colonialists Cecil John Rhodes and Alfred obedience campaign and all the criminal hor• following the direction of the Task Force Beit. rors of banditry. Reftigees fled from bandit- Central Coirtmittee leadership and acting dominated areas desrupting the Govern• with firm and steady determination. The Meeting chaired by Comrade Ivy Ma- ment's development plans, and causing the hanya (and in Bulawayo it has become more security forces to be used as a police force. After thanking the principal speakers. usual for women to fill the post of Chair• Comrade Ivy Mahanya, Chairperson, said person) started with the introduction of the The Nation as a whole was affected by the that her Branch Task Force would hold pri• District and Branch Task Force officials, political divisions which were most obvious• vate weekly Executive meetings and fre• who made a determined effort to obey the ly evidenced in Matabeleland. quent public ones. She urged those present to bring the work of the Task Force to the slogan-instructions approved by the Polit• The Task Forces' directive was to "merge notice of their immediate neighbours. buro and Central Committee Task Forces. the masses". The directive proceeded from The two guest speakers, members of the both the President of ZANU (PF) and the The meeting ended with the simultaneous Provincial Task Force startled those assem• Leader of PF-ZAPU after the ratification of singing of the National Anthem in the three bled by giving non-Party greetings, which tfie Unity Accord at the Congresses of die two major languages. •

he Matabeleland North ZANU (PF) Mrs Mloyi from PF-ZAPU. Choir which recentiy won a Trophy T and a prize in Harare in a Singing Contest in which 73 choral and Traditional Comrade Manzine said that the choir was Groups participated was formed following formed to cement the unity amongst the the signing of the Unity Accord between Women's Leagues of the two Parties. "We ZANU (PF) and PF-ZAPU. sing songs of Unity and praise our leader Comrade R.G. Mugabe for the job he has FOCUS ON The Choir which has performed in vari• done well to unite all Zimbabweans" she Matabeleland North ous national activities and at certain occa• said. sions to entertain foreign dignitaries visit• ing Matabeleland North Province is com• The Zimbabwe Traditional musicians A political Choir posed of 40 women drawn from the Wom• have been integrated in the new group. emerged In en's Leagues of the two Parties. Twenty are from ZANU (PF) while the other twenty are "The group is becoming a very popular Matabeleland ft-om PF-ZAPU. The Singing Group has two entity that it has been invited to many occa• North leaders, Mrs Manzine from ZANU (PF) and sions", said Comrade Mloyi. •

ZIMBABWE NEWS OCTOBER, 1988 35 Unfair treatment — Cauae for Concern for the Disabled FOCUS ON Matabeleland North

amson Mudhimba is disablea. He can• government or private sector" because "we lost, they come to assist me. Long live the not see. Like other blind people, he can and we want to contribute to the social people of Bulawayo!" He also urges S had a skills training at the Jairos and economic devel(^ment of our country.' * Bulawayo residents to ensure that the blind Jiri Centre in Bulawayo. people do not fall in the canals. Blind Samson also said that if the govern• ment cannot offer employment to the blind, Samson disclosed that he is a singer. "If Like many blind persons, he feels he has "we can say we are not independent". there is anyone or people interested in sing• been unfairly treated by society especially ing, please I want to join hiih or them. I can in the field of employment. This is a cause His second problem concerns money also compose songs/' for concern for him in particular and the given from the Social Welfare Department. other disabled in general. "We filled forms to get $50,00 but instead To those who may want to contact Sam• of this amount we receive $30,00 monthly. son Mudhimba: His business address is: Samson says' 'the blind people are not ac• Where does the other amount ($20) go? We Jairos Jiri Association cepted for jobs. We are skilled, we know are worried about this and also of the fact the job like anybody else. We are strong. that that which we receive is often delayed. PO Box 7018 Blindness or not seeing does not mean that Can we be informed of the problem?" he Mzilikazi the blind man is unknowledgeable". asked. Bulawayo The blind complainant is asking the Comrade Samson thanks the people of Home Address: 71298 Lobengula West Government "to help us to get jobs in the Bulawayo for respecting the blind. "If I get Bulawayo

Takalta M%mrm Co-op givos liopo to thi L.oeail Womon In MMVlngo District FOCUS ON Masvingo tina Mushanyuki is a Community $1 400,00 in their bank account and $900,00 worker stationed in Mugabe Ward in the current account from which they draw E 15 in Masvingo District. She tells to buy clothing materials in Masvingo es• of Takaita Njere Co-operative which she pecially from N. Richards and Whitehead says is the hope for the local women who Wholesalers." are its members. Takaita Njere engages in dressmaking. It Ministry's Assistance was started by 30 women in 1987 after each The Ministry of Community Development contributed $20,00 as capital share while and Women's Affairs financed Mrs Mam- two of the members contributed two sew• wadi, the Secretary of the Co-op, to train ing machines. in Retail ai^d Management. She has complet• "With the two Sewing machines and ed part I of the Six-parts course. The same members' fuiancial contributions, the group Ministry also plans to teach the co-operators started operations at Gwanha Business sewing, cutting and design. It is Centre where they rent a House for $10,00 on-the-job-training. a month. The house they rent belongs to one of the members," reported the Community worker. Plans The group aims to expand their activities. Information reveals that though the Co• ComnKi* ethia Minhanyuki — Commu• They need mor6 sewing machines and a op is not yet registered, normal meetings as nity Workar in Muflab* Want 18 toi place to build a house for sewing. The Mas• in every co-operative are held to discuss the Maavlnso vingo Council, to which they applied, for• problems facing the members. bership is really determined to succeed. tunately provided them with a place. Comrade Etina explained further that the ' 'They see the project as a source of hope'' co-op is potentially viable because the mem- she said, adding that "Right now they have The problem now is lack of money to 36 ZIMBABWE NEWS OCTOBER. 1988 finance the construction. Members have opt• watering cans and the sinking of the the river. A little dam or borehole will help ed for fruit and vegetable selling in order borehole. towards solving their problem. Once this is to raise funds for the building. Through this overcome the members would want to ac• exercise, they managed to raise $180,00. At present, they use claypots to fetch commodate their children in the co-operative They also think of financial donors for the water from the river to irrigate their vegeta• project particularly school-leavers to ensure construction of the sewing house, for buy• ble's. Natural Resources Board officials now their assistance and participation in social ing fencing materials of the garden, the forbid these co-opters to fetch water from and economic development. •

Nyajena District: Zorogwi Women's Co-operative Aspires for Self-Rellanc4 and Community-based Solutions to Probia

FOCUS ON Masvingo

ormed in 1984 by 48 local women, F Zorogwi co-operative in Nyajena makes uniforms to satisfy the needs of the local school community. A councillor for Nyajena Ward 30, where, the co-op is found, and also a school teacher and instructor in sewing, Comrade Fungai Mazani said that the co-operative members contributed monetarily to buy clothing. She said that she contributed her own sew• ing machine and added, "At present we have three machines donated by the organi• zation for the Collective Co-operatives of Zimbabwe (OCCZIM)." OCCZIM also gave the co-operators six bundles of cloths, four tapemeasures, four pairs of scissors, four boxes of soft pins and ten rolls of sewing cotton.

Aim "With this little material basis, we managed to establish our co-operative, the objective being to make cheaper uniforms for our school children and to help the local com• munity to mend their clothes at affordable prices. This collective project also aids us in creating self-employment in the rural area so as to get money to sustain our families," said Comrade Mazani.

She continued saying that "through or• ganised collective work, we managed to raise $1 000,00 which we banked." Besides sharing a little money to buy soap and salt, Zorogwi Women's Co-operators help their husbands by sewing their tattered shirts and trousers. Comrade Fungal Mazani (left) — Councillor for Nyajena Ward 30 "Our group aspires for self-reliance and community-based solutions to our local Setback development. If more sewing machines were problems. We eagerly learn skills imparted The co-operative is not yet registered. The available, the members would be able to in• by organisations such as the Association of women are struggling to get it legalized. crease the volume of their operations. The Women's Clubs of Zimbabwe based in Ha• co-operators welcome any kind of assistance rare. This organization together with the Besides sewing, co-operators have start• in order to secure more sewing machines. Ministry of Community Development and ed vegetable gardening but there is a At present, "we aim to build a big house Women's Affairs regularly send people to problem of water. So a borehole is needed. teach us the basic skills in sewing." Com• for our sewing activities. Bricks are already rade Mazani went further: moulded but what lacks is a fund to secure Some members absent themselves regi^ a builder. $35 000,00 would be enough to "Agritex, Health officials, Local Govern• larly while others want to share the proceeds finance the construction, to buy other build• ment officers and the Local Headmasters of co-operative work early. A few are lazy. ing materials and to sink a borehole" she teach and advise us too." This slows down the pace of co-operative concluded. . •

ZIMBABWE NEWS OCTOBER, 1988 37 n order to create self-employment and supplied bread to the local community of the provide services'to the surrounding Nyahombe Resettlement Scheme, to busi• I cdmmunity five rural men and three ness people from Dare, Gororo, Razi, youths formed a co-op in April this year to Chasiya, Tende, Musvovi, Shongamiti and embark on bread-baking at Nyahombe Rural so on. Service Centre near Tokwe Bridge in Masvi- ngo Province. Bread output would be increased provid• ed accommodation and electricity problems The Chairman of Tasvunura Bakery co• are resolved. FOCUS ON operative Comrade Chenjerai Bevhura rev• ealed that the Vice-Chairperson who once At present, the members of the co• Masvingb worked for Cheziya Bakery in Masvingo be• operative are looking for a stand upon which fore being expelled is experienced in to build a bakery. It is hoped that the Reset• bread-baking. tlement officer Comrade P. Madzikanda will do his best to secure a piece of land for the "We t^ advantage of his experience in co-operators who have already completed bread-baking, and we were able to create some forms which were sent to Harare for rural self-employment for ourselves" said approval. The members are also seeking Rural self- Comrade Chenjerai. So the one trained financial assistance from the non• member teaches others how to bake bread. governmental organizations and govern• employment With $300,00 donated by the owner of the ment. Government officials dealing with co• building in which the co-operators bake operatives Sihould assist in facilitating legali• creation bread, they bought two bags of flour and 20 zation of the co-op through which the mem• litres of cooking oil, sugar and salt. So far bers intend to create and expand rural em• these rural bread-makers have successfiiUy ployment oppormnities. •

Apalling Conditions at Ngundu Government Clinic

FOCUS ON Masvingo

regnant women from the surrounding for mothers and babies. When mothers give part of the masses who played a crucial role rural areas are subjected to unhealth birth, babies are taken home unwashed; they in the war of liberation? The contribution P conditions at Ngundu Government are washed at home because nurses do not of the rural masses to our national indepen• Clinic built in 1984 at Ngundu Growth Point have adequate places. dence is undisputed! in the Chivi District in Masvingo Province. Another woman who refused to be named Up to now, expectant mothers at Ngun• A Zimbabwe News reporter visited the said that there are no lights at the clinic and du do not have maternity dresses; they use clinic recently. The nurses working there re- " we lise candles. If one does not have a can• their tattered clothes which they bring from fiised to be interviewed saying it was against dle, it is a problem . . . You have to give their rural homes. This is a health hazard government regulations to disclose any in• birth in darkness". both to the mother and child. formation relating to their work without per• The situation is aggravated by lack of beds mission from their superiors. However, per• A real paradox! Isn't? Where there are electricity installations right on the clinic for sick mothers. There is only one bed mission was granted to chat with a number which is shared by all the mothers, to give of expectant mothers at the clinic. premises! This is a serious problem which should be addressed to by the relevant birth. If say five women get labour pains at the same time, the other four have to give No cotton, no light and soap Ministry. birth on the floor; usually on the mats which The first interviewee was Mrs Keresina The Government should also do some• they bring froip their homes. Chisasa who comes from the area near thing to provide soap for mothers at this clin• Gororo School. She came to the clinic on ic. The soap is for washing government At other govenunent clinics or hospitals, the 13th of September, her ninth month. She sheets. At present, patients buy soap to wash there are nurses and workers to wash preg• said she was glad that the local nurses do those sheets yet in other government clin• nant mothers but at Ngundu Clinic no one their best to teach the local community on ics it is not so. does that. Maybe it is because of shortage Family Planning, on feeding children with of staff! So it is up to the local Member of different kinds of food and on health Parliament (Hungwe) to do something to No phones, maternity clothes, beds problems but she was disappointed with the bring to the attention of the government this and medical staff conditions under which they lived at the Ngundu health problem. government clinic. The means of communication is very poor because there is no phone. When a mother ' 'When we give birth, we are not supplied is affected by pregnancy complications, Unhealthy accommodation. with cotton. >ye know we are entided to cot• nurses use phones of the local businessmen. The expectant mothers who come to Ngun• ton but we are not given. The result is that Sometimes patients have to wait many hours du Government Clinic to give birth are ex• sometimes there is a horrible smell of blood before an ambulance arrives to take them posed to unhealthy conditions. They sleep in the ward." , tb Masvingo Town which is 95 kilometres on mats which they spread upon the cement away. If the ambulance arrives very late, the floor of the two building blocks with no win• To worsen the plight, there is no shower life of the mother is endangered. dow panes. At night, they are mercilessly or enough water to wash after giving birth. bitten by mosquitoes. They are in danger of The water which is used there is got from Can't the government do something to in- the tape. It is cold water which is not good stal a phone to save lives of the mothers. (Continued on next page)

38 ZIMBABWE NEWS OCTOBER, 1988 News in Brief FOCUS ON Masvingo

asvingo Youths welcome the Unity tackle the first task of creating Provincial Unemployment M agreement achieved by ZANU (PF) Task Forces to a stage of registering cell/vil• Masvingo, lacking in industrial develop• and PF-ZAPU and will do everything to lage groups. These groups are at present ment, is one of the densely populated safe-guard it. waiting for the new membership cards and provinces in the country. To that end, the the election of committees. It is the Unity Accord which has made it level of unemployment is very high. It af• possible for the integration task forces to fects the Youths. Security The security situation in the five districts of Small-scale youth projects cailnot create enough jobs or absorb many people. Mas• ApiMlling conditions at Ngundu Masvingo is satisfactory except in the Governmont ciinic Chiredzi District which is often disturbed vingo Youths hope that the National Secre• by the South Africa sponsored MNR tary for Youth took note of their needs dur• (Continued from page 31} bandits. ing his visit. malaria. It is sometimes cold or hot depend• Sometime in June this year, the Youths ing on the prevailing weather. of Masvingo held a meeting with Security Training and Culture officers from the Party Headquarters and Youths in Misvingp would like to sincere• A visitor would easily notice a lot of flies with some from the Department of Nation• ly thank the National Scholarship Commit• hovering upon the food and little pots al Security. They explained the security tee for granting scholarships to some Party brought by the mothers from their homes. problems. Since then the situation in Chired• Youths to study overseas. Seven students are Moreover, the pregnant mother is not al• zi has improved. already benefiting from these scholarships. lowed to come with someone to cook and However, a lot of youth roam the streets take care for her. It is this clinic'.s regula• Heroes Day of Masvingo towns and Growth Points be• tion which mothers do not understand. "We Though attendance was not satisfactory, all cause some do not have 'O' level passes. do not favour this regulation because if we districts in Masvingo celebrated the Heroes The courses offered at some institutions are become seriously sick, we need someone to Day. On the day in question, 54 heroes were not adequate so the youths feel that it would help cook for us," they argue. reburied in Bikita, '11 in Mwenezi, 45 in be better to establish in Masvingo Province It is hoped the government, particulariy Chiredzi, 86 in Chivi, 77 in Zaka and in more training colleges to cater for the needy the Ministry of Health will immediately do Masvingo District 9. In Gutu, the remains youths particularly in the areas of building, something to rectify the appalling situation of 417 heroes have been located and they carpentry, co-operative management, book• at Ngundu Government Clinic. • are yet to be reburied. keeping and so on. ' •

Bitter About Non-promotion

n April this year, we published in the stationed in Bulawayo. The reasons for not Syria in 1979. In the same year, he operat• Zimbabwe News Special Issue a report being considered in promotion are that most ed in Tete from where he went to Mary I on the problem of integration and pro• of the ex-combatants are not in a position Mount Assembly Point in 1980 to wait for motion exercise of the ex-combatants, (see to know most of the things, they are barred integration in the Zimbabwe National Army. page 26). by "the old guards in the service". Access to administrative issues or staff is limited be• He was demoblized in 1982. From 1983 The Director of Prisons said the exercise cause "We have low ranks" he said adding to 1984 he was studying 'O' Level by cor• has been very slow due to a sharp drop in that "I have the lowest rank in the prison respondence. He sat for the examination in the prison population. According to a report service." 1985. In 1986, he joined the Prison Serv• by Comrade Charles Manzini, the Deputy ice after training at Chikurubi. He studied Public Relations Officer (Prison Service), Comrade X has "O" Levels and says is the Prison Act, Prison regulations and Pri• the 1980 general amnesty drastically reduced aware of the main obstacles to the promo• son Standing Orders for six months before the prison population from 22 000 to about tion of ex-combatants namely, they have he was posted to Bulawayo in October 1986. 5 500. This, he said, must have been the lower ranks, administration does not expose reason for retarding integration or promo• them to office work becaus^ it argues that "We have got the potential and ideology tion of ex-combatants. they are too junior to be in offices and the but We are not given chances of promotion. seniors most of whom served in the coloni• We also have experience gained in the bush Embittered Ex-combatants Speak out al regimes are jealous about the young ac• during the war." tive ex-fighters. Some ex-combatants who have been lucky It is a fact that the Prison Service needs to be integrated in the Prison Service hold people with military experience but the old different views regarding their promotion. Experience Comrade X whose Chimurenga name was guards do not consider our experience in "Chances of promotion are very slim," Bee went to Mozambique in 1977 from war. So they consider the ex-combatants as said Comrade X, a 30-year old ex-combatant where he was sent for military Training in nothing.

ZIMBABWE NEWS OCTOBER, 1988 39 Other Reasons for non-promotion Rhodes, the Rhodesian medals they were Syria, China etc yet these are not Comrade W is another ex-combatants whom given during the colonial days!" said Com• considered. rade W. we had a chance to interview. Bom in 1960. It is the wish of many, if not all the ex- Comrade W went to Mozambique and It is really demoralizing to note that many combatants that "some of our years abroad stayed at Chibawawa in 1977. Comrades carried out the mission given by and in the struggle should also be considered In 1979, he was sent to undergo military tt^ Party; they have done Company Batal- as years of experience for purposes of pen• training in Syria. In October of the same lion Commander Courses and Diplomas in sion and promotion in employment." • year, he was sent to Mavhonde by the Mili• tary Training Department to become an in• structor. Thus, he continued to train other comrades till 1980, the year in which he went to Chitungwiza Assembly Point. In the Hlghfleld Polyclinic — Occasional same year, he was integrated in the 5th free lectures to Outpatients Brigade (Gukurahundi). In 1983, he was - demobilized. He and other demobees formed a co-operative (Don Carlos Con• f I ^ he sisters and nurses of Highfield lives of children. It is only the scientific sumer Co-operative) which was to operate I Polyclinic should be commended for methods of treatment that can effectively in Chitungwiza. However, the co-op dismal• A. doing a good job of treating patients cure diseases," said Sister Murashiki. She ly failed in 1985 and on 2nd May 1986 Com• nicely and lecturing to them every morning pointed out that some churches for instance rade W joined the Prison Service after six- on six child killer diseases: measles, tuber• the Apostolic Faith, preach that children months training at Chikurubi. culosis, diphtheria, whooping cough, teta• should not be injected but "we all know that nus and polio. God helps those who help themselves". So Dissatisfied the parents should be advised to help them• Comrade W is dissatisfied because of non- One of the State Registered Nurses, Sis• selves by bringing their children to the clinic promotion in his present employment. ter Murashiki said, while lecturing to out• or hospital to be treated or get immunized. Among reasons for non-promotion are the patients one morning: common misunderstanding between the It is the duty of those parents with a former guards and ex-combatants, lack of "It is our duty and the duty of all parents knowledge of hygiene to teach their neigh• representation of ex-combatants in the senior to prevent diseases and sicknesses in order bours. Helping each other is good because positions in the prison service. The highest to save the lives of our children. We can do it saves human life. In addition, parents are rank of ex-combatant is that of the Principal it by being clean every time. If a child be• responsible people who should talk to or Prison Officer. Unlike in the Army and the comes sick or is affected by measles, sore teach their children on ways of avoiding the Police, no ex-combatant ih the Prison Serv• eyes, diarrhoea, take it to the nearest clinic spread of diseases. ice has been issued with a Liberation Medal. or hospital for medical treatment." The Highfield Polyclinic nurses are urg• "The most disappointing thing is that the Apart from teaching the symptoms of ing parents to communicate with their chjX- old guards who served in the colonial sys• measles, the Highfield Polyclinic nurses dis• dren, teaching them on Sexually transmit• tem still continue to put on Medals of courage superstition. "We want to save the ted Diseases (STD) and on AIDS. •

Grinding Mills to Spread The Managing Director of Shirichena they will work in their respective locali• to growth Points Group, Comrade Reuben Zemura said ties. "This would also serve as employ• that the Milling Equipment will be dis ment creation," he added. by J. Ngwenya tributed to various Growth Points throughout the country. It is hoped that the proUons of the peo• ple bi the rural areas will be eased in that "We shaU mstaU Grinding Mills in they will bring their grain crops for hiriciieiia, successful in running Kezi, Nkayi, Murdiwa, Phuntree, Jotsho- processing at low cost. Sorghum will also businesses in Harare and lo, Binga, Gokwe, Shurugwi, Mbereng- be processed. People in urban areas will C Bulawayo, has decided to embark wa, Gutu, Chivi, Chirumanzi, Wedza, no doubt benefit from the Milling Project on big business — The Milling Project Chlweshe, Rusape, Chipmge and so on," in getting better quality mealie-meal. whkh is aiming to serving people in the he said. rural areas. Apart from creating employment for Comrade Zemura further said that,the some people in their respective areas, the The ambitious businessman has plans Shiricliena Group will draw people from project will of course enhance the quali• to fanport Grindtaig Mill Equipment worth various districts to undergo trainfaig m the ty of life of the people in those areas — over one million dollars. operation of the Grinding Mills so that a health advantage. •

FREELANCE ENGINEERING

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40 ZIMBABWE NEWS OCTOBER, 1988 Such a comfortable feeling. Slyli- N.v KC; o57S Isn t 'A great. When you can put your feet up and relax. Knowing you've got the winning ticket. And you just cant lose. Such a comfortable feeling. Just like wearing Grasshoppers. Grassho SW )I-S the Fashion House of G&D Shoes, Belmont-

WORSE THAN A SHORTAGE. . .

We reluctantly present our illustrated guide to guarding your remaining stocks of drive-belts.

While every effort is being made to secure forex for raw materials, we regret to advise that back-orders for Wedge-, Vee- and Fan-Belts have reached 300 000.

The problem is made worse by a chronic imbalance in demand for different sizes; which we hope to rectify before all your mining and industrial machinery and vehicles grind to a halt. Until then — guard those spare belts with your life!

RUBBERS ALLIED 4 PRODUCTSl^^Teo P.O. Box 8034, Belmont, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe Tel. 72544,/5, 70680, 72556, 71282/3 FGRCA3iiniG i CMGntiOVv iCuAY Issels is committed to the advancement, development and involvement of our employees, ourcommunity and our nation. We at IsseLs have proved, through our achievements, that though we belong to a Third World country, we have First World skills committed in our support of Government's aims and objectives thus promoting communication and co-operation at all levels within our company. We embrace the engineering, mining earth-moving and rail demands of our country as well as the northern SADCC states. Technology is competitive productivity, and productivity is a matter of dependable service with performance, that is what counts.

Khami Road H.I.S., Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, P.O. Box 21 99, Bulawayo. Phone:- (B| 6901 1. Telex:- "ISSELS" 3331 ZW