Sharleen Mohammed
Mt Darwin residents yesterday voiced strong support for Constitutional Amendment Bill No. 3 (CAB 3), saying the reforms are needed to safeguard ongoing development in the district, with community members stressing that growth in farming, industry, and local markets requires steady policies and uninterrupted implementation.
Visible improvements include the rehabilitation of roads including Mazowe Road and the expansion of small-scale value addition projects such as milling, peanut butter production, tomato drying, and poultry farming.
They explained that these initiatives are already creating jobs and boosting the local economy.
“The roads are not just tar,” said agro-dealer Simbarashe Nyikayaramba. “It connects our produce to markets, reduces transport costs and brings buyers closer and when roads improve, the economy improves.”
Farmers reported that better roads are influencing production decisions.
Horticulture farmer who identified herself as Alice said, “When we can reach the market faster and with less damage to produce, we plant more. Good roads give us confidence.”
Youth entrepreneur Liberty Soko emphasized the importance of processing produce locally. “If we only sell raw goods, most profits leave the district. Processing here even on a small scale keeps money and jobs in the community.”
Entrepreneurs warned that industrial growth and rural value chains require reliable infrastructure, electricity, water, and skills training thus factories, processing units, and supply chains cannot operate under uncertainty.
Some residents noted that frequent election cycles can delay large projects in what they describe as “What we are building now that is roads, irrigation, processing is the backbone of our rural economy. "CAB 3 helps ensure these programs continue to completion.”
For many, CAB 3 is seen as a practical step to protect progress and support sustained growth. As one local trader said, “When roads connect us to markets and we start processing our own goods, that is real growth. That is why we support CAB 3.”
