A farmer in Insiza District, Matabeleland South Province, has transformed his ancestral homestead into a flourishing agro-tourism hub, showcasing the expanding impact of rural industrialisation and diaspora-led investment.
Located in the Wanezi area, the property has evolved from a traditional homestead into a modern mixed farming enterprise. It now features a state-of-the-art milk parlour, a powerful 34kV solar system, a vibrant citrus plantation and a growing piggery project, clear indicators of the shift from subsistence agriculture to commercial production.
The development aligns with the Government’s ongoing call for citizens, especially those in the diaspora, to drive economic transformation back home by investing in productive ventures.
“We are on our ancestral lands; it is not a farm, but we have turned it into a hub of mixed farming. We are into livestock and crops, and it has helped us a lot. We are close to Wanezi Mission, where I sell most of my produce. We also supply Rainbow Hotel and Holiday Inn. It’s helping us a lot. I work with the community to develop our area in line with the President’s mantra ilizwe lakhiwa ngabanikazi balo,” said Satenga Farm owner, Nkosibona Dube.
Government officials say the transformation at Satenga Farm demonstrates the potential of communal land to support viable agro-industrial businesses without the need for large landholdings.
“We have seen here that it is possible to develop your communal land into an agro-industry. What we are seeing here is an example of intensive farming, and now the area has become an agro-tourist attraction. So you do not need vast tracts of land to be productive,” said Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Professor Obert Jiri.
Authorities emphasise that the rural industrialisation agenda continues to drive investment into ventures capable of stimulating economic growth, creating employment and improving livelihoods across rural communities
