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Kuda Bwititi and George Maponga
MRS Chipo Silva of Chekenyika village, near Lake Mutirikwi in Masvingo province, is a content woman.
She is among the dozens of women involved in the ongoing construction of a US$14,2 million mini-hydro power plant at Lake Mutirikwi.
‘‘The employment of some women under this project is very good news. It is common knowledge that the first priority of many mothers is to support and look after their families.
“Those who have been employed will be able to send their children to school, and buy food and clothes for their offspring,’’ she said.
The project, which is being undertaken by Great Zimbabwe Hydro Power Company, is a milestone venture that will spur economic growth in Masvingo.
The power plant that is being constructed downstream of Zimbabwe’s second-largest inland lake, which was built to predominantly irrigate cane fields in the Lowveld and supply water to the ancient city of Masvingo, is now 60 percent complete. The project is in its second phase, which entails main civil works.
To date, about 350 workers have been employed.
The project is one of several initiatives the Second Republic has come up with to empower the people of Masvingo.
Today, President Mnangagwa is expected to address thousands of people in Zaka, as he takes the ZANU PF campaign to Masvingo province.
In the past five years, the province has benefitted immensely from President Mnangagwa’s drive for the country to steadfastly continue to map its development path through delivery of people-centric programmes.
The province is home to seven districts, which are Mwenezi, Bikita, Zaka, Chivi, Chiredzi, Gutu and Masvingo.
The Second Republic has implemented 537 projects in the region, while 140 others are ongoing. These have transformed the lives of the over 1,6 million people in Masvingo.
Irrigation
Multiple irrigation programmes have been initiated in the province. In total, the Smallholder Irrigation Revitalisation Programme is targeting 5 700 hectares (ha).
To date, about 3 000ha have been put under irrigation, with the target well in sight.
A prime example of a successful scheme is the Chombwe irrigation and piped water project that was established in Chivi. President Mnangagwa commissioned the scheme in December 2020, and Government wants to replicate it in Masvingo’s six other districts.
According to Chivi Rural District Council chairperson, Councillor Godfrey Mukungunugwa, the Chombwe project has turned around the lives of the Chivi rural folk, with many households engaging in smallholder garden ventures.
“Chombwe has brought relief to learning institutions like Jenya, Denga and Makovere primary schools, among others that are now venturing into income-generating agricultural projects. We want to thank the Second Republic, under President Mnangagwa, for the landmark Chombwe irrigation project because clinics and business centres across Chivi now have running water,” he said.
Using devolution funds, Councillor Mukungunugwa added, four new schools had been completed in Chivi district, while over 200 boreholes were drilled.
He said villagers no longer fetch drinking water from riverbed wells. Those who used to walk up to five kilometres to fetch water now have taps on their doorstep.
Entrepreneurs from Chivi have also benefitted from the irrigation scheme.
“I own a shop at Chivi and the biggest number of our customers are from the irrigation scheme. The scheme has boosted economic activities for people engaged in various businesses,” said Miss Catherine Ndava, a small-scale entrepreneur in Chivi.
Mushandike Irrigation Scheme,the biggest in Masvingo province at 845 hectares, underwent rehabilitation after the Second Republic injected funding under the Smallholder Irrigation Revitalisation Programme, bringing smiles to over 540 beneficiaries at the facility.
The revitalisation entailed repair works of overnight storage dams and water conveyancing infrastructure as most canals were obsolete, resulting in water pilferage.
Masvingo district Agritex officer Mr Eliphas Mugari said water was now flowing to all villages at the scheme.
“The major challenge was water storage and conveyancing but we are happy that after Government’s intervention all the villages, namely, 11,15,16,21 and 23 at Mushandike, now have water and this has brought cheers to plotholders,” said Mr Mugari.
The timely intervention at Mushandike by the Second Republic will boost disposable incomes of plot owners who specialise in horticulture, as well as wheat and maize production.
Education
More than 200 schools and clinics headline key infrastructural projects that have been built using devolution funds in Masvingo province under the Second Republic.
The new educational institutions include the state-of-the-art Chirichoga Primary School, under the Masvingo Rural District Council; and Rujeko Secondary School, under the Masvingo City Council.
Standard classroom blocks have also been completed at Masekayi Fashu, Tamuka, Tabudirira, Tafara, Chirima, Fambidzanai, Marirangwe and Mutindiri primary schools.
Other developments that have taken place at countless schools in the province include construction of standard science laboratories, building of new teachers’ houses and boarding apartments, and connections to the internet.
Implementation of Education 5.0 has resulted in the establishment of rural industries such as the Mapfura/Marula Processing Plant in Mwenezi, creating employment opportunities for people from surrounding communities. The plant produces mapfura wine, mapfura high-value oil and stockfeeds.
Also, the Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) Innovation Centre for Dryland Agriculture in Chivi district is advancing traditional knowledge on competitive indigenous grain crops, livestock, agriculture and aquaculture species.
In terms of community radio stations, Avuxeni was set up to cater for the Shangaan community in Chiredzi; while the GZU campus radio station caters for Masvingo, Chivi and Chiredzi, broadcasting in Shona, Venda and Shangaan.
Construction of roads and bridges
People who have travelled between Masvingo and Harare will confirm how pleasant it is to drive along the road that connects the two places, which is part of the Beitbridge-Harare highway.
It, indeed, stands out as one of the signature projects under the Second Republic, with about 500 kilometres completed so far.
The road was rehabilitated exclusively by local companies, a remarkable feat that underlines the success of President Mnangagwa’s “Nyika Inovakwa Nevene Vayo/Ilizwe Lakiwa Ngabanikazi Balo” (A country is built by its own people) philosophy.
In addition, major works have also taken place on feeder roads in all the seven districts in Masvingo. The developments include re-gravelling, motorised grading, and verge and bush clearing.
New bridges have also been constructed to facilitate navigability on the roads. Some of the newly constructed bridges are Mupembedzi and Lower Shange.
Tugwi-Mukosi Dam
Under the Second Republic’s initiatives, the masterplan is to operationalise irrigation, fisheries, human and wildlife settlements, hydropower generation and tourism activities at the Tugwi-Mukosi Dam. This was approved in 2022 to pave the way for commencement of all envisaged works.
Under the Tugwi-Mukosi mini hydro project, 20 megawatts of electricity will also be produced. At the dam, there is also going to be construction of staff houses and a control tower.
Health
Dozens of clinics have been constructed in all of the province’s seven districts.
The clinics include Mupamaonde, Odzi, Budzi, Tafara, Chibvure, Dungu, Nerumedzo, Uteke and Chivaka in Bikita district alone. Other completed clinics include Gudo, Rusunguko, Makani and Masimbaevanhu in Chiredzi; Masivamele, Makumbe, Makwirivindi and Muchekanyora in Gutu district, just to name a few.
Also, the GZU Simon Mazorodze School of Medical Health was established to train local and regional medical and health professionals.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter