RUNDU, Namibia – NAMIBIA’s Kavango East Region, which has a twinning arrangement with Mashonaland West province, is in the process of finalising agreements with the province for the recruitment of skilled Zimbabweans to spur its agricultural sector.
The region, which signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the sister province in 2019, imports over 60 percent of its food from South Africa, with the agreement and Zimbabwe’s skills transfer expected to cut the import bill, at the same time improving trade bilateral relations between the two nations.
Speaking during the on-going Rundu Annual Trade Fair, Kavango East Region Governor, Mr Bonifatius Wakudumo, said trained and qualified personnel in the agriculture sector from Mashonaland West province were needed to help pump life into the semi-desert nation’s farming drive.
“Area of expertise is one that we agreed on as sister provinces as to how we can exchange expertise from Zimbabwe to come here and work with our agricultural extension officers and workforce to impart the knowledge on our local extension officers and people responsible with agriculture and farming,” he said.
“Our University of Namibia should also work with Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT) to come up with research for farmers to have informed decisions and policy formulation for us as the government.”
To help impart knowledge, agricultural experts from Mashonaland West province introduced demo plots in the region, with a 30-hectare of maize that was under irrigation proving the prowess of Zimbabwe’s agriculture extension officers.
The two sides are expecting a bumper harvest and joint-monitor proceeds to be realised from the sale of the maize.
“Mashonaland West and Kavango East region have same environmental and climate characteristics,” said Mr Wakudumo . “However, we realised that Mashonaland West has a very strong agricultural industry and we drastically want to tap on the agriculture knowledge in Zimbabwe.
“Mashonaland West farmers have been practicing modern farming and we are still doing it the old-traditional way. We learnt from the province that farming has to evolve to be able to realise more from our practices.”
Mashonaland West Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Mary Mliswa-Chikoka, said the two provinces were exploring areas to further strengthen their ties.
“We look forward to deepen our ties to the full implementation of our MOU,” she said. “Through this visit, our President, Cde Mnangagwa, is speaking about Vision 2030 and NDS-1 that will see Zimbabwe become an upper-middle-income economy. He is also emphasinng re-engaging and our twinning arrangement has his blessings.”
Minister Mliswa-Chikoka invited the Kavango East Region to the provincial annual agricultural show which runs every year in August. In an interview after officially commissioning the trade fair, Namibia’s Works and Transport Minister and Rundu Annual Trade Fair patron, John Mutorwa, said focus was also supposed to be put on roads infrastructure development across Southern Africa to improve movement and increase trade.
At least 130 exhibitors including Tanzanians, are taking part at the Kavango East’s biggest trade show.
Apart from embarking on a robust road rehabilitation and upgrade, Zimbabwe also set up a dry port in Walvis Bay and is in the process of reviving its rail system.
Minister Mliswa-Chikoka, who is accompanied by various heads and directors from her office, education and local Government ministries, is expected to tour two districts today and tomorrow to explore areas of trade.
Officials from Chinhoyi and Kariba municipalities are expected in Namibia today for the twinning arrangements and signing ceremony with Rundu Town Council and Divundu Village Council respectively. – The Herald
