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Tawanda Mangoma in CHIREDZI
Chiredzi South National Assembly member Brigadier-General Kalisto Gwanetsa (Retired) yesterday castigated the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) for failing to rehabilitate Chilonga Irrigation Scheme which has been in dire straits for the past 12 years.

The irrigation scheme has not been operational despite Government availing the necessary equipment to re-situate the water pump to draw water from the adjacent Runde River.

ZINWA engineers requested new pumps to replace obsolete ones under the guise that the move will breath new life into the scheme that straddle over 250 hectares ensuring food security for thousands of villagers in the drought-prone Chikombedzi.

Hundreds of plot-holders are lying redundant and financially insecure after Chilonga ceased operations.

Speaking during a recent tour of the scheme Rtd Brig Gen Gwanetsa said it was saddening that Chilonga community was grappling with hunger while an irrigation scheme was lying idle near-by.

“It’s very sad that the Chilonga community which is in natural Region 5 is now relying on food aid from Government and its partners because Chilonga is no longer functioning. The community here also realised income from this scheme and its painful that it has been defunct for the past 12 years robbing people here of potential revenue.’’

What was more worrying, said Rtd Brig Gen Gwanetsa was that Zinwa had failed to fix pumps that draw water from Runde River almost four years after delivery of the requisite spare parts.

“We received all the required equipment four years ago. Government supplied three submissive pumps and two have already been installed. Electricity is there and canals and the perimeter fence were rehabilitated by the community,” he said.

“The challenge now is that Runde changed its course and is now flowing northwards in the process affecting the water drawing point. The community here has been waiting for ZINWA to correct the river’s flow and end their dilemna.”

The Chilonga community was now fed up by endless visits by Zinwa engineers who still fail to fix the problem.

“The community has given up on ZINWA because their engineers have been here many times with no solution in sight. They now want Government to find another solution that will end their current plight.’’

A local villager, Mr Tiyani Chilonga said the community around the scheme was prepared to help in the de-siltation of Runde River.

‘’We used to produce maize, tomatoes, wheat and cotton under irrigation but all that disappeared. We stayed for almost eight years waiting for pumps and after receiving them we have now waited for another four years but still water in not flowing to our plots,” he said.