Valencia Ndhlovu
Matabeleland Pulse Reporter
For three years, agricultural extension officers in Ward 17 had no proper place to call home. Strong winds and heavy rains destroyed their accommodation, forcing them to squeeze into makeshift spaces at a local school—disrupting classes and leaving farmers without reliable access to vital agricultural support.
Now, those days are over. Thanks to a partnership between Elina NGO and the local community led by Councillor Church Ncube, the Department of Agricultural, Technical and Extension Services (Agritex) staff have moved into a new five-roomed accommodation block. A solar-powered borehole now provides clean water, not just for the officers, but for surrounding community members who have long struggled with water shortages.
The change couldn’t come soon enough. “We realized that the lack of proper accommodation was affecting everyone,” Councillor Ncube explained. “Sometimes residents couldn’t get agricultural assistance when school was in session. Now that extension staff are permanently based in the community, farmers can easily seek the guidance they need.”
Agritex officers play a crucial role in rural Tsholotsho, distributing government agricultural inputs and providing technical guidance to local farmers. Without stable housing, that mission became nearly impossible.
“After our accommodation was blown away, we had no proper housing for three years,” said Mr Nkomo, an Agritex Agriculture Business Advisory officer. “We kept moving from place to place whenever new staff were recruited. Through the support of an NGO and the community committee, we now have a five-roomed house and a solar-powered borehole. We’re finally stable, and we’re grateful.”
The new facilities are expected to transform agricultural service delivery in the area, strengthening farmer support systems and boosting productivity across Tsholotsho’s farming communities
