Chiefs call for continued Intwasa Programme to boost rural agriculture

Nqobile Bhebhe, Zimpapers Writer

TRADITIONAL leaders have called for the accelerated continuation of the Intwasa programme, saying the initiative is key to transforming rural livelihoods and boosting agricultural productivity.

President of the Chiefs Council, Chief Mtshana Khumalo, said chiefs were satisfied with the impact of the programme, which was introduced by the Second Republic to tackle low productivity and uplift farming communities across the country.

Speaking at the ongoing 9th National Thanksgiving and Dedication Service in Bulawayo, Chief Mtshana Khumalo said rural communities remained the backbone of Zimbabwe’s agriculture sector.

He was responding to remarks by Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Resettlement Minister Dr Anxious Masuka, who told congregants that agriculture under the Second Republic was transforming rural areas and driving economic growth.

“Since 2017, as chiefs, we have been invited to this gathering. Today we are happy that we are still together,” he said.

Chief Mtshana Khumalo said traditional leaders had taken note of Government’s commitment to developing rural areas through agriculture.

“We heard the Lands minister, Dr Masuka, saying that development in rural areas is growing the economy through agriculture.

“We, as chiefs, hope that the Intwasa programme continues,” he said.

He added that chiefs would also like to see the National Thanksgiving and Dedication Service decentralised and extended to rural areas to allow wider community participation.

The Intwasa programme is one of the flagship initiatives under the Second Republic aimed at improving productivity and ensuring food security, with traditional leaders playing a key role in mobilising communities to support Government programmes.