By Rangarirai Shanyurai

Civil servants and war veterans are set to benefit from discounts on land purchase under the government’s recently launched land distribution programme, aimed at promoting economic empowerment and recognizing the contributions of these key groups.”
The government of Zimbabwe launched the major land redistribution initiative, offering major discounts with flexible 20-year payment terms.
Speaking at the Leadership Success Series and Land Tenure Implementation Program held at Masvingo Polytechnic on May 23, business mogul and philanthropist Kudakwashe Tagwirei revealed that government had 10 million hectares of land for redistribution under the A1 and A2 farming schemes.
“The government of Zimbabwe has acquired 10 million hectares that will be redistributed to citizens. A1 farmers will receive six hectares, covering residential and farming land, while A2 farmers will receive up to 200 hectares,” said Tagwirei.
In Masvingo, land is priced at US$500 per hectare, putting the standard six-hectare A1 plot at US$3 000. However, Tagwirei said civil servants and other qualifying groups will receive layered discounts.
“If you’re a civil servant with over 10 years of service, you’ll get a discount of two and half percent to five percent. Because Masvingo is in Region 3, there’s an additional two percent discount. Those who pay in cash will receive a further 15% discount,” said Tagwirei.
As a result, civil servants will pay just US$2 340 for a six-hectare plot, while non-civil servants will pay US$2 490.
To ease affordability, citizens will be allowed to pay in annual installments over 20 years, with civil servants paying US$273 per year and others US$288 per year.
War veterans will enjoy even steeper subsidies with the first five hectares priced at just US$10 per hectare, while the sixth hectare costs the standard US$500. They also qualify for the additional 15 percent discount.
Tagwirei said the initiative was aimed at boosting productivity and ownership among ordinary Zimbabweans.
“The President understands that people are struggling financially and has made it possible to pay for land over two decades,” he said.

By TellZim Reporter

A desperate Masvingo woman is appealing for urgent financial assistance to the tune of US$25 000 to send her 13-year-old daughter to India for life-saving treatment after local doctors said they could no longer offer any medical solutions for her rare intestinal condition.
Chantelle Adams said her daughter, Laurah Kayla Adams, had been battling serious gastrointestinal complications for four years, including two rare diseases, intestinal neuronal dysplasia and leiomyopathy, disorders affecting the nerves and muscles of the intestines.
Laurah began suffering from chronic constipation after she had her appendix removed in 2021. Despite multiple medications, tests, and hospital stays, doctors were initially unable to determine the exact cause of her condition.
It was not until August 2024, after a barium enema and a biopsy conducted at St. Anne’s Hospital in Harare, that the family received a diagnosis. But by then, doctors said the diseases had caused irreversible damage to Laurah’s intestines and there was no surgical treatment available in Zimbabwe.
“The doctors told me they can only manage her symptoms. They said all the surgical procedures they had considered earlier were no longer possible because her intestines, colon, and rectum are no longer functional,” said Chantelle.
The family’s last consultation on May 14 with pediatric surgeon confirmed the severity of the situation.
“The doctor said her abdomen was severely distended and she was pale due to blood loss. He confirmed again that no surgery can be done locally, and her condition continues to deteriorate,” said Chantelle.
Chantelle said there was now a 95 percent risk that Laurah’s intestines may rupture. A theatre review by a local doctor in April showed that bowel washouts were no longer effective due to new blockages.
Facing no further options locally, Adams is seeking financial support to take Laurah to India for treatment. She has secured a quotation from an Indian medical facility and has compiled related travel and accommodation expenses.
“I just want to try and give my daughter a fighting chance. She wants to be a surgeon when she grows up. Here, the doctors have given up. But I can’t give up on her too.”
The family is appealing to well-wishers, corporates, and donors to assist in raising the required funds. Supporting documents, including medical reports and cost breakdowns, are available upon request.
She said her finances were drained in the past four year battle with the life threatening illness and said she had been trying to reach out to many for help but nothing materialized.
Adams said she tried to reach the President of Zimbabwe, some business people like Chivhayo and Tagwirei but she couldn’t reach them and her hope was that someone hears her distress call despite others discouraging her to go public with the plea.
She said she will remain undeterred and was willing to do whatever it takes nomatter how uncomfortable it makes her as long as there was little hope.

Anyone willing to help can contact her directly at +263 773 965 277.
Those willing to contribute can send cash via EcoCash on the same number with the name Chantelle Ebrahim or send to her bank Chantelle Ebrahim First Capital Bank, M 50903602526

By Virginia Njovo

As the Seeds For Future (SEFF) project comes to an end in Masvingo Province, marking the end of a three-year partnership between the government of Zimbabwe and the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), the project is said to have transformed lives benefitting around 6 000 people from the province.
Speaking during a closure meeting at Urban Lifestyles Hotel recently, SEFF Project Manager Joseph Matiza highlighted a key milestone, the unification of women’s groups through establishment of local chapters for the Rural Women Assembly (RWA).
Matiza said the groups had empowered women to influence policies affecting local food systems and address social, health, and economic issues.
“In each project district, the RWA identified public agenda items needing attention, leading to several prioritized pilot actions, two Early Childhood Development (ECD) classroom blocks at Ndali and Mpinga Primary Schools in Chiredzi district, mother’s waiting shelter at Maranda Clinic in Mwenezi, the construction of a primary health center at Fusira Business Center in Masvingo to reduce travel distances for healthcare access, especially for pregnant mothers,” said Matiza.
A new community seed bank was constructed in Mubagwashe and another rehabilitated in Mpinga, enhancing farmers’ access to local, adaptable seeds for improved productivity, food security, and nutrition.
One of the project beneficiaries, Kesia Zonke expressed gratitude for the SEFF project and said it had promoted self-sufficiency among the beneficiaries.
“We thank SEFF for this project as we have ventured into self-sustainable initiatives that will support our financial stability for years to come,” said Zonke.
Shashe Agroecology Chairperson Elizabeth Mpofu praised the Italian government for supporting SEFF and requested more sustainable projects, assuring that the initiative would continue.
“We want to thank SEFF and its partners for equipping us with a sustainable project which we promise to sustain,” said Mpofu.
AICS country manager Paolo Enrico Sertoli expressed gratitude for the cooperation received during the period of project implementation.
“I am grateful to all institutions, organisations and individuals who made the SEFF initiative possible, a special word of thanks goes to Masvingo Community whose energy, ideas and perseverance have been the true engine of this project’s success.
“Together we have planted seeds of hope knowledge and opportunity, AICS and the Italian Development Cooperation reaffirm their full commitment to continue this journey together towards a future that is more inclusive, prosperous and sustainable,” said Sertoli.
Rural producers of paprika and sesame have also become shareholders in two private companies, Papri-Afrika and Ses-Afrika. These companies operate aggregation and processing plants within a multi-service centre established by the project in Rutenga, with additional co-financing from other development partners.
The intervention has linked rural farmers to value-added local and export markets, increasing their revenue. In the past year, farmers marketed 78 and 274 metric tonnes of paprika and sesame, generating over $400 000 for approximately 6 100 farmers.
It also positively impacted rural beneficiaries through various programmes, including, school-managed vegetable gardens, and poultry initiatives for home-grown school feeding programmes, weir dam construction, establishment of micro-irrigation schemes, rehabilitation of community seed banks for traditional grains and improved market linkages for dry-land grains, oilseeds, and irrigated crops
SEFF project was implemented by a consortium led by COSPE, being partnered by Terredes Hommess Italia (TDH), Sustainable Agriculture Technology (SAT), Women and Land in Zimbabwe (WLZ), Community Technology Development Organization and Rete Semi Rurali (RSR), with the support from the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, Climate and Rural Development.