adminNoah Pito in HURUNGWE
Authorities at Hurungwe Rural District Council have lamented the underutilisation of Magunje Dam, which has potential to generate income for thousands of people. The authorities urged investors to spearhead various projects at the dam.
Hurungwe RDC chief executive Mr Joram Misheck Moyo said fish farming, eco-tourism and expansion of Magunje Irrigation Scheme were among the opportunities available for potential investors.
The dam was constructed 20 years ago.
“Magunje Dam has several business opportunities available to investors willing to do business with us, particularly in the area of fish farming, eco-tourism and development of plots under the second phase of Magunje Irrigation Scheme,” Mr Moyo said.
“We have plots that have since been demarcated for eco-tourism ventures. They have enough space for game rearing, crocodile farming and establishment of some lodges.
“All this is being offered at very low rates. In fact we are offering excellent incentives to investors. Interested companies or individuals have the option of also establishing partnerships with council.”
He said council was flexible and accommodating to potential investors.
“The area is ideal for creating Hurungwe’s own unique recreational package. While there have been no takers over the past years, we still want to remind potential investors that the place remains an excellent spot for business since it is serviced by the tarred section of the Karoi–Binga Highway plus a reliable mobile network from the country’s three major mobile network providers,” he said.
According to Mr Moyo, apart from the current 62 irrigation plots at Magunje Irrigation Scheme, there are also additional plots for a second phase, which have not yet been developed.
“Investors are needed in the area for developing more irrigation plots under the second phase of Magunje Irrigation Scheme,” he said.
“There is need to put to use the agricultural land that has continued to lie idle at the dam for the benefit of the area.”
Mr Moyo said Hurungwe District as a whole was very open for business citing several other lucrative business ventures still waiting for takers.
“Hurungwe as a whole is very open for business. We still have several areas of investment that need exploitation. We have glitter stone and slate mining in Nyamakate area along the Harare Chirundu Highway and guano mining at Zvimhonja (about 55 kilometres west of Magunje).
“There is also cement stone mining in the Sengwe-Mudzimu area and exploitation of Mukwa and mahogany for furniture making in the Kangurunguru and Chiroti areas.
“Eco-tourism ventures at Gandavaroyi and Mahwindo Falls along the Sanyati River are also among a host of lucrative opportunities investors are free to come and take up in Hurungwe,” he said.
Magunje Dam lies 6km South West of Magunje Growth Point along the Magunje-Binga Highway.
Government constructed the dam in the 1990s as a source of water for Magunje Growth Point while providing irrigation water to enhance food production among the rural areas in the district.
Online Reporter