A community bakery that was officially opened recently by cabinet ministers closed less than 24 hours after the ministers left.
NewsDay reports that the 50kg bag of flour that had been delivered was exhausted, leaving the rudimentary structure located in an open maize field derelict.
The oven was commissioned by Small and Medium Enterprise minister Sithembiso Nyoni and Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry minister Priscah Mupfumira. It uses wood fuel and can produce about 500 loaves a day.
One of the villagers who spoke to the publication on condition of anonymity had this to say:
There was so much secrecy about the project. Most of the villagers were surprised that the ministers were coming. No wonder why it operated for 24 hours and the moment the ministers went away everything came to a halt.
The community bakeries are a government initiative meant to empower rural communities as well as making bread cheap and readily available.
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