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George Maponga in Masvingo
ZINWA expects to restore irrigation water supplies to Mkwasine sugar cane estates in Chiredzi tomorrow after identifying a leak on the outlet valves that was stopping the movement of water from Manjirenji Dam.

More than 14 000 hectares of sugarcane at various stages of growth at Mkwasine and Nandi estates in the Lowveld has been faced with wilting due to lack of irrigation water after supplies from Manjirenji stopped over a week ago.

This followed a breakdown on the outlet valves with ZINWA dispatching a 24-hour working team to address the problem.

Now it has emerged that there was a leak on one of the outlet valves at the dam which stopped the flow of irrigation water to the Lowveld cane fields.

ZINWA Catchment Manager for Runde Engineer William Tsvuura today revealed work repairing the leak had started.

According to Engineer Tsvuura supplies were supposed to be restored in Mkwasine by tomorrow morning with the release of water billed to start day end today.

He said his team has been working day and night to address the problem.

Farmers at Mkwasine and Nandi estates on Monday send an SOS saying their cane, especially the newly planted crop commonly known as “plant cane” was showing signs of severe moisture stress a situation aggravated by the prevailing abnormally hot weather.