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GOVERNMENT has secured about $20 million for the crafting of Tokwe –Mukosi development master plan that will see the unveiling of a number of projects at the dam

Walter Mswazie Masvingo Correspondent
GOVERNMENT has secured about $20 million for the crafting of Tokwe –Mukosi development master plan that will see the unveiling of a number of projects at the lake. Speaking during a Command Water Harvesting Project in Ward 17, Masvingo Central on Friday last week, Environment, Water and Climate Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri said the master plan craft was in its initial stages. She said Government dispatched a ministerial committee to Tokwe-Mukosi which explored a number of investment opportunities.

“As a ministerial delegation, we have toured Tokwe-Mukosi Dam project to assess the project’s investment opportunities. We are still working on different sectors regarding areas of interest that comprise tourism, recreation, agriculture,” she said.

Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri said the completion of the master plan will see Masvingo province turned into a greenbelt through agricultural activities. Irrigation projects are expected to be under 25 000 hectares of land.

“The major beneficiaries of the water at Tokwe-Mukosi will be Chivi and Masvingo districts. We expect people to venture into manufacturing industry, fisheries and agriculture. We urge people of Masvingo to be patient, things will not happen overnight. We are doing something and soon they will start to benefit from their dam,” she said.

The dam which is shared between Masvingo and Chivi districts has already started attracting interest from foreign investors. A South-African investor has expressed interest to set up a car cable facility as a tourism activity. Zimbabwe Tourism Authority chief executive Mr Karikoga Kaseke recently revealed that investors are prepared to start the project once Zimbabwe is ready. The 1,8 billion cubic metre-dams was completed last December and commissioned by President Robert Mugabe in May this year.