A greenbelt emerges in semi-arid Buhera

Tanyaradzwa Rusike recently in BUHERA

BURYING a husband is a heart-wrenching experience that can shatter the ground beneath any woman’s feet.

Loss, loneliness and financial anxieties often paint a bleak picture and a future shrouded in sorrow and suffering.

Yet, amid this grim outlook, there are resilient women who are defying the extraordinary odds stacked against them.

Gogo Angela Muzambezi (75), of Murambinda, Buhera district, Manicaland province, was widowed in 1990, but refused to be defined by misfortune.

Her husband, a security guard in Harare, was tragically shot and killed in the line of duty, leaving her with four children and an uncertain future.

She neither had any formal education nor safety net. Giving up, however, was never an option.

“Initially, I thought that was my end because I did not have any formal qualification that I could use to look for a job,” she told The Sunday Mail last week.

“I then decided to continue with farming as a business in order to look after my children.”

Farming became her lifeline and her weapon against despair.

And then came the Murambinda Irrigation Scheme.

The scheme was borne out of the construction of Marovanyati Dam, which was commissioned in 2020.

After being onboarded into the scheme, Gogo Muzambezi was no longer held up by the whims of unpredictable weather seasons.

Soon, a diverse range of crops flourished in her fields.

Her crops grace not only her family’s table, but those at local boarding schools and health institutions — a testament to her tireless efforts.

Her children, who once faced an uncertain future, now stand tall, educated and empowered.

“I am happy because all of them were able to go to boarding schools,” she said.

She said development of Marovanyati Dam has transformed their lives.

“The word irrigation can only be meaningful if there is water,” she continued.

“We used to struggle every year around August because there was no water.

“However, with the construction of Marovanyati Dam, our lives changed for the better because we are managing to plant different crops all year round.

“We sell our produce to vendors around Murambinda Growth Point, local boarding schools and hospitals in Masvingo, Chivhu and Hwedza.”

Murambinda Irrigation Scheme has provided a lifeline to dozens of families in Buhera district.

Its proximity to Murambinda Growth Point and surrounding towns provides easy access to markets for the farmers’ produce.

Marovanyati Dam serves as the primary water source for the scheme.

The scheme provides a reliable water source, enabling farmers, previously hampered by drought, to cultivate crops throughout the year.

This has led to increased production of a diverse range of crops like tomatoes, sugar beans, groundnuts, onions and maize, boosting food security and generating income for farmers.

Some farmers sell their produce to areas as far as Mutare, further expanding their market reach. The scheme has created employment opportunities for locals involved in the agricultural value chain.

Crucially, it has also contributed to accelerated rural development, in line with the Government’s efforts to industrialise rural areas by promoting local economic activity.

Marovanyati Dam was commissioned by President Mnangagwa in 2020.

The US$33-million-dollar dam has a holding capacity of 50 million cubic meters.

Since completion, development has become the buzzword in Buhera.

Mining companies and other smaller mining enterprises also draw water from the dam.

Local headman Mr Gamuchirai Chitiyo-Mapako applauded the Government for constructing the dam.

“Our district had for long been labelled as one of the poorest in Zimbabwe, but President Mnangagwa remembered us,” he said.

“Construction of Marovanyati Dam has transformed communities because people can now do their farming activities without fear of a water crisis. Since the commissioning of the dam, we are now managing to produce all year round.”

Another beneficiary, Mr Alfred Muzerengi, said he has since ventured into fishing.

“I am happy to have benefitted from the dam,” he said.

“As fishers, we are now able to earn an income through fishing from the dam. We are now capable of sending our children to schools of our choice, all because of the dam.

“What the Government has done for our Buhera community is commendable and this is a huge step towards realising Vision 2030.”

Facts about Marovanyati Dam

Location: Buhera District, Manicaland province.

Situated on Mwerahari River.

Year project was first proposed: 1971

Year construction started: May 2003

Construction stopped in May 2008 before being discontinued for the second time in June 2014 due to funding challenges.

Development began in August 2017, with the Second Republic fast-tracking the construction.

Project cost: US$33 million, which was internally generated.

Contractor: China Jiangxi Corporation

Implementing Agency: Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa)

Dam type: Zone Earthfill