TWO hundred people mostly women-headed families from Mabika irrigation scheme in Bikita, Masvingo province, are set to increase their production after the government expanded their project from 80 to 200 hectares. According to the Masvingo Agriculture ministry’s irrigation development department, the Mabika scheme has been placed under the provincial master plan as the government seeks…

PARLIAMENT has demanded answers from the government why it continued turning a blind-eye to the environmental damage at the Boterekwa escarpment in Shurugwi, the Midlands province caused by illegal gold miners. The parliamentary portfolio committees on Environment and Mines recently visited the escarpment on a fact-finding mission, and were shocked after they were informed by…

COUNCILLORS in Zvishavane have called for the establishment of sub-police stations in the mining town as crime soars. Speaking at a residents’ meeting at the weekend, the councillors suggested that the local council should collaborate with the police in setting up the sub-police stations. Zvishavane has only one police station in the central business district,…

THE Forestry commission has moved to rope in mining communities and schools as part of an initiative meant to restore lost forests. Zvishavane Forestry extension officer Tendai Mufandaedza in an interview said the commission is targeting to create community woodlots particularly in mining areas as “research proved that a huge number of trees is lost…