Category: zimbabwe

Precious Manomano

Herald Reporter

Farmers have been encouraged to start planting winter wheat this month and take advantage of the moisture available across all provinces as the rainy season comes to an end.

A total of 85 000 hectares have been targeted for winter wheat this year and this is expected to produce 408 000 tonnes of the cereal, well above the 375 000 tonnes realised last year which was the record harvest since wheat started being grown commercially in the country in 1966. That harvest was also the first ever that met all Zimbabwe’s wheat needs, now of 360 000 tonnes, with no imports required.

Agricultural experts have advised farmers to plant in time with the optimum planting dates being set for the last week of April in Lowveld areas, to the end of May in higher altitude areas.

However, the highest yields are obtained when planting is done within the first two weeks of May.

Planting on time enables farmers to avoid frost during critical growth stages of wheat like flowering and to avoid high disease and pest pressure during the months of August and September when the crop is in the post-anthesis stage — when the grain is filling.

Early planting also allows the tillering stage to coincide with low temperatures during the month of June. Low temperatures and even frost at this stage promote tillering.

Farmers are expected to follow good agronomic practises to enhance productivity.

Some farmers have completed land preparation and tilling while others are currently  in preparation of winter wheat planting.

Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers’ Union (ZCFU) president, Dr Shadreck Makombe said the country was ready to produce a record harvest following the good rains that have replenished all irrigation dams.

Dr Makombe advised farmers to plant as early as they received the green light for their area from the expert advisors to minimise any clash between their harvesting and the start of the next rainy season.

“Yes, most people do it around 15th of May but l urge farmers from other areas to plant early, even small portions. Time is very crucial because late planted wheat was seriously affected by rains. Farmers should secure inputs on time as well to ensure that we produce more this season. Yes, a bumper harvest is predicted since we have good rains this season for the production of the crop,” he said.

Zimbabwe Indigenous Women Farmers Association Trust president Mrs Depinah Nkomo said farmers were geared to do winter wheat farming, adding that a good harvest was predicted.

She said if the Grain Marketing Board facilitated payments to maize farmers on time, wheat production would be easily managed, as farmers could then continually recycle their capital.

“Inputs are needed and that is why I am saying if GMB pays maize farmers on time so we can fully engage in wheat production. We also intend to increase wheat hectarage this season. We have enough water for irrigation. We are aiming higher than last season,” she said.

This year wheat inputs are financed through private contractors, Government’s National Enhanced Agricultural Productivity Scheme (NEAPS), Presidential wheat support scheme and self-financed growers. All farmers are expected to average around 4,8 tonnes to the hectare.

CBZ Agro-Yield is targeting at contracting 20 000ha for 96 000 tonnes; AFC Land Bank is targeting at contracting 15 000ha for 72 000 tonnes; the private sector and self -financed farmers will go for 25 0000ha for 120 000 tonnes; and the Presidential scheme targets 20 000ha for wheat for 96 000 tonnes.

The 2023/24 summer and the 2023 winter season programme target is to sustainably increase crop production and productivity to meet and surpass the national requirements for both human consumption and industrial use.

Government has been targeting increases in wheat production to ensure Zimbabwe moves in self-sufficiency in line with the Agriculture and Food Systems Transformation Strategy, the Agriculture Recovery Plan and the National Development Strategy 1 and in pursuit of the vision of becoming an empowered and prosperous upper middle income society by 2030.

In 2008 the wheat subsector had declined but with the advent of new dispensation, there was transformation in agriculture.

Last season private sector participation played a pivotal role in the success of wheat production.

Africa Moyo in KARIBA 

BUDGET airline, fastjet, made history yesterday when it launched flights from Harare to Kariba and Hwange, a move described as positive by tourism players in the area who have been struggling to stay afloat due to destination inaccessibility.

The flight leaves Harare at 9am and arrives in Kariba at 9:50am, while the return flight departs Kariba at 3pm and arrives in Harare at 3:50pm. 

The routes shall be served by a fleet of Embraer EMB120 Brasilia aircraft.

Yesterday, expectant Kariba tour operators were at the airport to see, if indeed, their ages old plea for air connectivity had finally been heeded.

Travelling to Kariba along the Harare-Chirundu highway takes about five hours.

But with heavy rains experienced this season extensively damaging the Harare-Chirundu highway, it can take more than five hours to get to Kariba.

By air, it takes only 50 minutes, and it is hoped that tourists who had shelved Kariba holidays, can now fly to the destination.

Fastjet chief commercial officer Ms Vivian Ruwuya said the launch of flights was “a momentous occasion”.

“The successful landing of our fastjet flight FN6201 from Harare to Kariba is part of our joint official launches of flights to Kariba and Hwange National Park,” said Ms Ruwuya.

“This is the first time in our history as fastjet Zimbabwe that we have launched flights to two new destinations on the same day.

“After several years of no flight connectivity, today we are delighted to connect Kariba to one of Africa’s leading tourist resorts of Victoria Falls.”

But Ms Ruwuya called on Kariba tourism players and the rest of the population, to support the flight so they sustain the route.

Guest of honour, Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona, who was represented by Dr Loveness Masuka-Dumwa from his ministry, said he was “thrilled to be part of this historic moment” as fastjet officially launched new services to Kariba and Hwange. 

“This is a momentous occasion for us and one that we have been eagerly anticipating for quite some time,” he said. 

“These two destinations are not only popular tourist spots but also important economic hubs, and we are excited that they are now connected to the rest of Zimbabwe and the world.”

Minister Mhona said he was happy with fastjet’s growth, which has seen the airline  introduce regional connections to Maun, Botswana and Nelspruit, South Africa. 

Fastjet, a Zimbabwean owned airline, has been operating locally between Harare, Victoria Falls and Bulawayo, and the launch of the Kariba and Hwange routes will enable the airline to serve more customers and provide them with the best possible travel.

Minister Mhona said under the Second Republic led by President Mnangagwa, which seeks to  grow Zimbabwe to be an upper middle-income economy by 2030, air transport is critical in enabling the vision as it opens and connects markets, facilitates trade and enables industries to link into global supply chains. 

“It is our hope, therefore, that this connectivity will be facilitating tourism, cultural  and business exchanges, economic opportunities and people-to-people relations will improve”.

The Government, he said, will continue implementing the Yamoussoukro Declaration concerning the liberalisation of access to air transport markets in Africa, which is in line with President Mnangagwa’s mantra, “Zimbabwe is open for business”. 

He said there are plans to relocate Kariba Airport since the runway is restrictive in terms of expanding it due to its current geographical location. 

A new site has since been identified for relocation of the airport and the new one will allow for a longer runway that will be able to handle wide-bodied aircraft.

Minister Mhona challenged fastjet management to consider introducing flights to Masvingo Airport and Buffalo Range Airport in Chiredzi.

Mashonaland West Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Mary Mliswa-Chikoka, said connecting Kariba to rest of the world by air will “transform Kariba, Hwange and Victoria Falls”. 

“Not only that, it will go a long way in boosting and encouraging the influx of tourists, hence increasing the GDP particularly of Mashonaland West in this era of devolution. 

“We are proud and excited that fastjet has decided to establish these local routes. Zimbabwean solutions for Zimbabwean problems, nyika ichivakwa nevene vayo,” said Minister Mliswa-Chikoka.

Zimbabwe Tourism Authority chief executive Ms Winnie Muchanyuka said:

“As ZTA, we are happy to see this project come to fruition. It has been a long time that efforts to get flights into Kariba started. 

“It takes 5 to 6 hours to travel by road from Harare to Kariba and some people found it to be too long. But by air, you do it in less than an hour.”

Ms Muchanyuka implored all tourism stakeholders in Kariba to play their part in ensuring that fastjet gets the necessary support to remain on the route.

An official with Cutty Sark Self-Catering Lodge, Mr Mark Lawrence, said the launch of flights by fastjet was greatly appreciated.

“It (business) has has been bad due to the state of the Harare-Chirundu highway,” said Mr Lawrence.

“But with flights now coming in, we hope the situation will improve.”

Mr Cephas Shonhiwa, who is the co-ordinator of the Kariba Tourism and Business Indaba, is equally hopeful.

Mr Conrad van Eyssen, a marketing official at Zambezi Cruise and Safaris, said he was optimistic that air connectivity will boost Kariba’s tourism fortunes.

Mukudzei Chingwere 

Herald Reporter 

THE Government has taken steps to strengthen surveillance, particularly at the ports of entry, and has activated response teams following cases of Marburg virus reported in the region. 

The response plan was announced by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Child Care Air Commodore Dr Jasper Chimedza in statement.

He alerted the public of a current MArburg outbreak affecting Equatorial Guinea and most recently Tanzania, the virus has a case fatality ration of 62.5 percent and a case fatality of 24 -90 percent.

Dr Chimedza said the Marburg virus is clinically similar to Ebola virus as they are caused by the same family of viruses and also cause severe haemorrhagic fever in humans.

“In view of this regional outbreak, the MoHCC has taken steps to strengthen surveillance particularly at the points of entry and activated preparedness and response teams,” said Air Commodore Dr Chimedza in statement.

“If anyone presents with haemorrhagic symptoms and high fever having travel history to or through countries reporting Marburg virus, they should immediately report to the nearest health facility or call the Ministry’s Public Health Emergency Operations Centre toll free number 2019 for assistance. 

“The virus is transmitted to humans through fruit bats which are the natural hosts. 

“Spread among humans is through human- to-human transmission via direct contact with blood, secretions, organs, or other bodily fluids of infected persons and with surfaces and materials contaminated with these fluids.

“Incubation period varies from 2-21 days.”

He said illness begins abruptly with high fever, severe headache, severe malaise, severe watery diarrhoea, abdominal pains and cramps, nausea and vomiting can begin from day three.

Other symptoms include severe haemorrhagic manifestations are seen five-seven days from onset of symptoms with fatal cases presenting with some form of bleeding, often from multiple sites.

“It is difficult to clinically distinguish Marburg from other infectious disease such as malaria, typhoid fever, shigellosis, meningitis and other viral haemorrhagic fevers.”