Hon Kudakwashe Manhanzva, the energetic Member of Parliament for Zvimba East, is reshaping perceptions of youth leadership through the sheer force of his work on the land.
His 10 hectare farm in Darwendale is not a token project or a political showpiece, it is a serious commercial operation that reflects discipline, planning and a hunger to excel. The moment you step onto the property, you feel the pulse of a young farmer who has chosen to build wealth with his own hands while serving in Parliament.
The tobacco fields are the first thing that seize your attention, stretching in clean, disciplined lines across eight hectares. The leaves are thick, richly green and expertly managed.
As he surveys the crop, Hon Manhanzva speaks with the confidence of a farmer who knows exactly what he is doing.
“This is not guesswork,” he said. “I love farming, it drives me, and it gives real income. The youth must understand that agriculture is a business. If you commit to it, it pays better than most things people chase in towns.”
His inspiration is clear. He openly emulates His Excellency President Emmerson Mnangagwa, whose own mastery of farming has set a national tone of production and self reliance.
“The President leads by example,” Manhanzva said. “He is a master farmer, and he has shown us that leadership must start with producing food and wealth for the nation. I follow that path proudly.”
The livestock section hits harder. Seventy cattle, ninety goats and forty sheep form the backbone of a growing animal husbandry programme. The animals are healthy, the kraals clean, and the management system tight.
Standing among the cattle, he explained why diversification matters. “Crop farming is powerful, but livestock keeps money flowing throughout the year. Young farmers must think this way. Do not wait for a salary when you can create your own.”
Hon Manhanzva is brutally honest about what enabled his breakthrough.
“I am a direct beneficiary of the Second Republic’s vision,” he said. “The ten hectares I received under the Presidential Scheme changed everything.
The Second Republic has shattered production records because it empowered ordinary people, especially youth. For that, I am extremely grateful.”
By the end of the visit, one thing is undeniable. Hon Kudakwashe Manhanzva is not merely preaching farming to the youth, he is living the model.
His fields, livestock and work ethic scream possibility, proving that when the youth seize the land with seriousness, Zimbabwe’s agricultural future becomes unstoppable.
