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Lovemore Chikova Development Dialogue

The commissioning of Chivhu Dam in Mashonaland East by President Mnangagwa yesterday clearly shows the importance of water infrastructure to the country’s broader economic development of the country.

Since 2017 when he came into office, President Mnangagwa has initiated various water projects across the country, with many of them already completed.

Other projects are still going on, and at different levels of completion.

The importance of dams to Zimbabwe’s developmental trajectory cannot be downplayed.

This is because the majority of the country’s population resides in the rural areas where water is essential for human consumption and irrigating in arid and semi-arid lands.

The development approach taken by the New Dispensation of accelerating rural industrialisation would need water for its success.

Food security is already guaranteed in many parts of the country because of the new water bodies that have been completed under President Mnangagwa’s administration.

The proliferation of the water bodies can be useful in increasing power generation as hydroelectric power stations can be established to add electricity to the national grid.

Tourism is also set to benefit from these water bodies, with recreational activities such as boating, fishing, picnic, camping and other water activities coming in play.

What is important for these dams is for the Government to make them multi-purpose to ensure maximisation of their potential.

Under the Fast Track Irrigation Rehabilitation and Growth Plan, the Government plan is to have at least 420 000 hectares of land are under irrigation.

There will also be the rehabilitation of 71 000 hectares under irrigation, with 450 irrigation schemes being under rehabilitation throughout the country.

The major dams and the subsequent establishment of irrigation schemes are a fulfilment of President Mnangagwa’s commitment and promise to bring development to the doorsteps of marginalised communities and help transform lives.

It is then important to look at the milestones achieved in dam construction following the commissioning of Chivhu Dam by President Mnangagwa yesterday.

Chivhu Dam

The commissioning of Chivhu Dam is set to transform Chivhu Town and its surrounding areas into a greenbelt.

The dam is located about 7km to the southeast of Chivhu, along Sebakwe River.

Chivhu town is a fast-growing service centre for Chikomba district, with an estimated population of 12 000 inhabitants.

The town lies on the main road linking Beitbridge, Masvingo and Harare and is also linked by a road to Mutare and Gweru cities which give it potential for industrialisation.

The dam will help accelerate rural development and modernisation, provide fisheries, climate proof agriculture and also produce electricity that will feed into the national grid.

The US$42 million dam has already seen the Chivhu Water Treatment Plant being completed.

A 120-hectare irrigation scheme was established at the dam to help mitigate food shortages caused by climate change-induced droughts.

Up to 400 hectares are envisaged to irrigated using water from the dam, while fisheries, tourism, power generation and livestock will benefit from the water.

Lake Gwayi-Shangani

This mega lake is about to be completed, and will drastically change the face of Matabeleland region, from its location in Hwange District.

The benefits of this giant dam are numerous, with President Mnangagwa already having commissioned work on a pipeline that will take water to Bulawayo.

This augurs well with the revival of Bulawayo’s industries that have been affected by many issues, including shortages of water in the second largest city in Zimbabwe.

Lake Gwayi-Shangani, being built at the northern edge of the escarpment in Matabeleland North, will impound 650 million cubic metres of water when full, making it the third largest interior lake in Zimbabwe and holding enough water even in drought years.

It will receive water from Gwayi and Shangani rivers.

The dam was first planned 109 years ago in 1912, but very little had been done until the coming in of the Second Republic which committed huge amounts of money for its fast tracked construction.

Already, work has started to prepare 10 000 hectares of land for establishment of irrigation projects under the National Matabeleland Zambezi Water Project of which the Gwayi-Shangani Dam is a major component.

The dam is expected to benefit communities in Binga and Hwange districts, as they can establish irrigation schemes and mitigate the effects of low rainfall.

Muchekeranwa Dam

Formerly known as Causeway Dam, the water body lies on the border between Mashonaland East and Manicaland provinces and was commissioned by President Mnangagwa in 2021.

It is located 30 kilometres from Marondera town and has a capacity of 49 000 mega litres.

More importantly, the dam is providing water to Machiki Irrigation Scheme earmarked for local farmers and villagers who were moved to pave way for its construction a few years back.

Muchekeranwa Dam is also providing water to Marondera town and Marondera University of Agricultural Science and Technology for both domestic and industrial purposes.

A project under the Presidential Community Fisheries Scheme is already running at the dam. There is also the construction of the Muchekeranwa-Wenimbi pipeline in Mashonaland East.

The dam has the potential to irrigate 2 250 hectares.

The beneficiaries of the irrigation schemes get training from agricultural experts from the Marondera University of Agricultural Sciences Technology (MUAST) and also from Government’s Agricultural Advisory and Rural Development Services.

Marovanyati Dam

Commissioned by President Mnangagwa in 2020, Marovanyati Dam is located in Buhera district in Manicaland province.

Communities in Buhera now boost of a dependable water resource, guaranteeing the district food security through irrigation schemes, fishing and livestock.

The dam is providing water to an irrigation facility of at least 1 250 hectares for grain, with some of the water being directed to Murambinda Growth Point, about seven kilometres away.

Under the first phase, two irrigation schemes — Guwanda (100ha) and Kwarire (400ha) — have been prioritised.

Fisheries projects are already generating incomes and improving nutrition for the rural populace, while tourism activities are expected.

There is planned power generation at the dam, while the nearby Dorowa Mine gets its water.

Tugwi-Mukosi Dam

In April, Cabinet approved the Tugwi-Mukosi Dam combination master plan, a development plan that provides a layout to direct any future development and growth around the dam.

The dam is envisaged to avail water for irritating 40 000 hectares, while investments are expected in tourism where the investors can build hotels, lodges and holiday homes within the dam’s immediate environments.

Some individuals and cooperatives already have received fishing licenses, while a wildlife park has been planned around the dam.

Other dams

Construction of other high impact dams is already at an advanced stage, with commissioning of some of the projects expected soon.

These dams include Kunzvi Dam near Harare, Silverstroom in Centenary, Semwa Dam in Rushinga, Ziminya Dam in Nkayi, Vungu Dam in Silobela, Runde-Tende Dam in Chivi.