At least 213 people have graduated with certificates after completing a government-supported basic skills training programme aimed at fostering economic empowerment and combating , gender based violence and drug and substance abuse in Zvimba West.
The initiative, facilitated by the Tonganyika Trust in partnership with Zvimba West Member of Parliament, Mercy Maruva Dinha, covered a variety of practical courses including welding, baking, detergent production, cutting and designing and driving.
The programme is part of the ZANU PF-led government’s broader vision to empower people by equipping them with life skills that support entrepreneurship and self-sufficiency.
The graduates promised to do meaningful work from what they learned. There are dreams of opening businesses and serving the community.
“I have been dreaming of becoming a professional caterer . This is it now. I have aced it. I now know that I will become a top notch caterer who will transform the Zvimba West landscape. We thank our MP, Mercy Dinha and the
Tonganyika Trust. Without them, we wouldn’t have gotten this far,” said one of the graduates Joyline Nyaungwa.
“I am grateful for this opportunity, I received training in cutting and designing hence I am looking forward to starting sewing clothes and uniforms around this area. My mother already has a sewing machine and this training came at the right time”.
“I want to appreciate, the efforts being done by our Member of Parliament, Honourable Dinha , we were mobilised throughout the constituency and this basic training is now our foundation, either we further our studies or start income-generating projects hence we feel empowered today,” a 23 year old graduate from the programme Kudzai Maplani said.
Zvimba RDC ward 2 Councilor Andrew Chirenda applauded Dinha for remembering and supporting people with life changing skills and fighting societal problems.
“As leaders we have been grappling to fight the use of drug and substance abuse and gender based violence but the coming in of Honourable Dinha with these initiatives, we have seen changes in our society everyone is doing something for a living now”.
“As for family, the initiatives is a game changer because families are now concentrating on productive initiatives to shape our society and we thank the MP for her vision for these people.
As Councilors we will support her vision “, he said.
The training programme is part of Dinah’s efforts to empower communities and fight the drug and substance abuse scourge and to reduce gender based violence in the area.
Dinha who is also Public Service Labour and Social Welfare deputy minister said she brought the initiative as means to create a society that has the potential to change their lives.
“To the congregation, to the graduates, I say there is a mantra that has been said by the President of this country, Dr. ED Mnangagwa, when he said, leaving no one and no place behind. Zvimba district is one of the districts that previously was left behind, but since the advent of the second republic, led by the ED Mnangagwa, we have seen that we are now being included in the development of this country. So we are happy that people have participated, they are being involved.
These initiatives will surely improve their livelihoods. That will help achieving Vision 2030, where, as a country, we aim to be an upper-middle-income society by 2030.
So our people are now being involved and we are looking forward to their continuous improvement in their livelihoods.
We are looking forward to them being able to send their children to school, to be there building schools for that matter, being able to buy food, being able to buy clothes, being able to feed the nation and do whatever they want to do with their own livelihoods. So we are happy,” said Dinha.
“Empowerment initiatives remains critical in ensuring the development of our communities. We have been engaging with Honourable Tongai Mnangagwa and Tonganyika Trust to equip our people with skills because it is very important given the threats of drug and substance abuse among our youths and gender bases violence in communities. Now that they have received this training, some of them will be able to take care of their families and start small businesses,” added Dinha.
Dinha promised to take the initiative to every ward of the Constituency.
Tonganyika Trust an organization formed by deputy tourism minister who is also Hunyani Legislator, Tongai Mnangagwa is spearheading various community initiatives across the country.
