Dr. Barbara Nyarai Nyagomo
By Nyasha Nhau
The residents of Chiendambuya in Makoni North are poised to benefit from yet another significant initiative, once again led by Dr. Barbara Nyarai Nyagomo, a community developer and philanthropist based in Zimbabwe and the United Kingdom (UK).
On this occasion, Nyagomo is in the process of establishing a state-of-the-art agricultural institute. This initiative will provide individuals from Makoni North and its surrounding areas, who possess a passion for agriculture, the opportunity to enroll and realize their aspirations.
In a conversation with this publication, she expressed, “I intend to establish a center of excellence in my rural hometown, where I grew up and attended school.
“There is a well-known quote by Winston Churchill that states, ‘We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.’
“This is not my first endeavor aimed at creating initiatives that benefit individuals, groups, and communities in Makoni North. My passion lies in developing the area I originate from and supporting the people within that community.”
The Center of Agricultural and Innovation, designed to serve as an agricultural learning hub for school children, is set to “provide internships for agriculture students, as well as train, mentor, and support local farmers in agribusiness and sustainable farming,” she explained.
She further elaborated that “the primary objective is to stimulate the local economy by producing for both local and export markets, thereby enhancing food security in Makoni North and beyond.
“We intend to integrate agriculture into various sectors such as tourism and community development.”
This pioneering development project also aims to support the government’s initiative of Leaving No Place Behind and will be implemented through the Barbara Nyarai Nyagomo Foundation in collaboration with Chief Makoni.
Over the past four years, Dr. Barbara Nyarai Nyagomo who is also a medical practitioner in UK has made significant contributions to the community by donating and repairing over 35 boreholes, constructing clinics, purchasing schools furniture, sponsored school sports tournaments and funding education for underprivileged students from primary to university levels. She has also empowered youth, women, persons with disabilities, and their caregivers in Makoni North through various initiatives, including gardening, animal husbandry, detergent production, and poultry farming, among other endeavors.