By Desire Tshuma
NYABIRA — Collins Washayenyika, a young Nyabira farmer who served as a service provider at the BMT Rugby Festival at Lord Brighton College, has praised the school’s Director, Honourable Brighton Marengureni, for staging a “big national rugby competition” that put the community on the map.
Washayenyika said the week-long tournament was more than sport — it was a platform for local business and youth inspiration.
“I want to applaud the Director of Lord Brighton College, Honourable Brighton Marengureni, for hosting such a big national rugby competition,” he said. “As someone from Nyabira, seeing this level of sport and economic activity here was powerful. It shows the kind of leadership we need.”
The BMT Rugby Festival wrapped up on Saturday with Old Hararians lifting the title after defeating Sports Club in the final. Hosts Lord Brighton College also took on Prince Edward High School in one of the closing fixtures that ended the tournament.
Washayenyika went further, linking the spirit of the event to national development. He applauded President Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Vision 2030 and the President’s mantra of “leaving no one and no place behind”.
“What we saw at Lord Brighton College is Vision 2030 in action,” Washayenyika said. “Bringing a national event to Nyabira means no place is being left behind. That’s exactly what His Excellency President Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa talks about. As young farmers, we feel included in the national agenda.”
Back at his base, Washayenyika is walking the talk. At The Lea Farm in Nyabira, he has built a diversified agribusiness that now employs 50 workers from the surrounding community.
The Lea Farm’s operations include 32 cattle, along with zebras and sables as part of a growing wildlife venture. The farm also runs thriving bee keeping and fishery projects, creating multiple income streams.
“We are proving that young people can succeed in agriculture,” he said. “The Lea Farm is not just cattle. We have zebras and sables, we are into bee keeping, and we have a fishery. Through this we employ 50 people. That means 50 families have food on the table because of agriculture.”
He said the teamwork and discipline at the BMT Rugby Festival mirror what it takes to run a farm.
“Rugby teaches planning, hard work, and unity. Farming needs the same. At The Lea Farm we live those values daily,” he said.
Washayenyika thanked Hon. Marengureni and Lord Brighton College for giving local entrepreneurs space to participate. “These events grow sport and business together. I’m grateful to the Director for the opportunity.”
With expansion plans underway, he hopes The Lea Farm will inspire more youth to take up farming.
“The land is there. The support under Vision 2030 is there. We will not be left behind,” Washayenyika said.