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Sydney Kawadza Senior Features Writer
For three years, the Biri 2 Extension Irrigation Scheme resembled nothing like the cradle of hope that it was meant to be for villagers in Mataga and surrounding areas in Mberengwa District of Midlands province. The 117 hectare irrigation scheme, which feeds from the Mundi-Mataga Dam, had grounded to a halt after a conflict involving the Zimbabwe National Water Authority, farmers and the Mberengwa Rural District Council.

The conflict began in 2012 as the farmers resisted paying for the water, alleging that the tariffs were too high. The bill sky-rocketed to $165 000 and Zinwa cut off supplies. The fate of Biri 2 Extension Irrigation Scheme was sealed. Efforts by officials from the rural district council to resolve the dispute drew blanks until a non-governmental organisation, the Centre for Conflict Management and Transformation, was roped in to help resolve the dispute.

The farmers and Zinwa have found common ground and water supplies have been restored. As the old adage says; the conflict is now but history. The farmers last week hosted Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development (Cropping) Deputy Minister Davis Marapira at a field day to showcase their lushy green, health crop that is expected to produce a 60-tonne yield.

In an interview during the field day, an elated project chairperson Mrs Dorcas Nyoni Masenda re-lived the tortuous three years when they lived like the children of Israel in the desert. “We are happy to showcase the results of a dialogue process that has seen us hosting senior Government officials at the project which was as good as dead and buried,” said Mrs Masenda.

“The three years that we were not able to produce from the farm were the most difficult for the farmers but I am happy to announce that we are raring to utilise the land as expected of us,” she said.

She said members were expected to harvest at least two tonnes from their 2,5 hectare plots. The main objective, she said, was to put the plots under crop production throughout the year. “After the maize crop, we are going to plant beans before the next crop next year,” she said. The farmers have also agreed to pay $1 000 a month for the water received from the dam.

An oasis in the arid region, the 39 000 megalitre Mundi-Mataga Dam was commissioned in 2004 leading to the establishment of the Biri Irrigation Scheme. It was double celebration for the farmers who also received farming equipment from Government’s More Food For Africa Programme. “We initially applied for three tractors and we have already received a tractor, disc harrow and plough while we are expecting delivery of a planter,” Mrs Masenda said.

Government has put irrigation among its top priorities to mitigate the effects of climate change that has seen Zimbabwe receive erratic rainfall during the summer cropping season. Deputy Minister Marapira said irrigation represented a tangible solution to food sustenance. “The development of such irrigation schemes helps Government to realise its goals of feeding the nation,” he said.

He however, emphasised Government’s efforts to invest into precision farming to improve yields. “There are developed countries that have reached approximately 32 tonnes per hectare and we can achieve that if we start using such technology as centre pivots which can assist farmers control the amount of water they use for irrigation purposes,” he said.

The deputy minister said Government was looking at investing at least $10 billion in irrigation development in Zimbabwe. He said there was need to do away with traditional methods of furrow irrigation.

“We have to introduce new technology, for example, centre pivots that have an advantage for allowing our farmers to easily control the amount of water which can be used per certain crop. “They can also control the yields, and use fertilisers through fertigation methods and weed clearance whereby they can push herbicides through the centre pivot,” he said.

Zimbabwe has about 250 000 hectares of land under irrigation while plans are afoot to add 100 000 more hectares.

Deputy Minister Marapira said with 350 000 hectares under irrigation, Zimbabwe should be able to produce enough for local consumption. “We would anticipate a yield of about three million tonnes of maize if the projects is completed,” he said His sentiments were echoed by the assistant director (irrigation) in the ministry Engineer Basil Chitsungo who said Government was working on improving technology at irrigation schemes.

“What we are saying is that the More Food For Africa Programme, which Government is implementing through support from the government of Brazil is targeting to put 4 100 hectares under irrigation through centre pivots and hose reel in eight provinces,” said Mr Chitsungo. “Within the same programme of mechanisation and irrigation development, we have the aspect of mechanisation (that is) bringing equipment such as tractors for the schemes.

“On the irrigation side, we are installing pumps, centre pivots and hose reels starting with rehabilitation programme,” he said. Eng Chitsungo said Zimbabwe was anticipating unfavourable rains this summer season hence investment in irrigation development. “Our target is to supplement, starting with supplementary irrigation to support rain-fed crop production by the time we reach the mid-summer dry period our farmers will be having access to irrigation to save their crops.”

The Biri 2 Irrigation Scheme owes its resuscitation to a successful Government intervention which was facilitated by the CCMT. CCMT is a non-governmental organisation that works to transform ways in which societies deal with conflict – away from adversarial approaches towards collaborative problem solving.

The organisation promotes dialogue between societies in conflict. CCMT helped to foster dialogue between Zinwa and the farmers. In its intervention processes, the CCMT spearheaded consultations with community leaders and their people, ZINWA and various Government departments.

It set up a dialogue platform for a solution to the stand-off while building relationships among stakeholders. It emerged that the villagers claimed perpetual rights to access to water from the dam and river. It also turned out villagers were not aware of how they could have water released from the dam.

The district administrator’s office and council officials also blamed poor communication for causing the conflict. Zinwa, however, reportedly argued that the conflict was due to lack of understanding of the water permit and agreement systems. The authority argued this was contrary to the belief by community members and institutions that they do not need permits to access water as provided for in the Water Act of 1976.

The Act was repealed by the Water Act of 1998, which states permits as a requirement for farmers to access water from Zinwa controlled water bodies. Permits allow ZINWA to effectively manage water systems particularly given the rainfall patterns in the area. ZINWA further argued that the system serves to protect the interests of permit holders, particularly, when water is scarce. According to CCMT, dialogue is critical in bringing communities together to engage on key developmental issues.

“Dialogue allows communities to explore and critique situations that affect development in their localities. The uniqueness of dialogue lies in the fact that it allows for constructive engagement, builds relationships and explores situations as a way of developing solutions to problems.”

Established in 2002, the Centre for Conflict Management and Transformation is a Zimbabwean non-governmental organisation working in the field of peace and conflict transformation. CCMT has a vision of a Zimbabwe that enjoys peace and harmony created through co-operation and sustainable conflict management and transformation in society.

It sees its mission as helping to build a culture of non-violence and peaceful resolution of all forms of conflict in Zimbabwe and the SADC region by enhancing the capacity of individuals, organisations and communities to effectively manage and transform their conflicts.

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