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Fungai Lupande Mashonaland Central Bureau
Massive irrigation equipment at Lilstock Farm in Matepatepa area left by a consortium of 22 white farmers has been lying idle since the land reform programme and is now a target for thieves, as efforts to remove it for safe keeping by the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) has been resisted by farmers resettled at the farm.

Speaking during a visit at the pump plant by Minister of State for Mashonaland Central Provincial Affairs Senator Monica Mavhunga last week, ZINWA catchment manager Ms Colleta Tundu said floating pumps in Lilstock Dam could submerge in the dam due to corrosion.

“There was a consortium of 22 white farmers at this farm who embarked on a massive irrigation project,” she said. “They built a pumping plant and put in place a pontoon with floating pumps in the dam.

“The floating pumps were to supply water to the pump house which in turn pumped to reservoir dams at three farms. An electricity sub-station was put in place at the pump house. The pumping station has capacity to irrigate 3 000 hectares and a further 10 000 hectares using the reservoir storage dams.

“During the land reform, the farm was offered to 52 A1 and A2 farmers. This infrastructure was never used. In 2007, ZINWA was mandated to look after the dam and the irrigation equipment.

“In 2016 electricity cables to the substation were stolen, transformer oil and parts were also stolen. Cables from the substation to the transformer and cables from the transformer to the pump house were also stolen. The floating pumps are rusting and they can submerge any  time.”

Assaulted by thieves

Ms Tundu said an unarmed man, Mr Maxwell Smart, who was manning the pump plant, was once assaulted by thieves.

“We decided to remove the equipment for safekeeping and the community resisted,” she said. “On June 6, an electric motor on the pontoon was stolen, prompting ZINWA to send armed security personnel.

“The community can form a water committee to oversee the issue of the equipment. We will write down the equipment that we will take for safekeeping and keep the records. We had a similar situation at Masembura Dam.”

Senator Mavhunga said the meeting was in line with the devolution agenda and President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Vision 2030 on how to develop communities.

“We need to plan on how we can use the sophisticated equipment for the benefit of the community without relocating people,” she said. “The equipment is meant for irrigation at commercial level. At the moment it needs safekeeping until we have a plan.”