adminUnlike Mutasa North where there are wet weather conditions, Mutasa Central is relatively dry, yet there are not any major irrigation schemes in the area.
Ray Bande Senior Reporter
AREAS under Mutasa District mainly in Mutasa Central constituency in Manicaland are expected to turn into a greenbelt when Government through the Zimbabwe National Water Authority rolls out a major irrigation project that intends to make use of water from Pungwe River.
Unlike Mutasa North where there are wet weather conditions, Mutasa Central is relatively dry, yet there are not any major irrigation schemes in the area.
Minister of Environment, Water and Climate Cde Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, newly appointed ZINWA chief executive Dr Jefter Sakupwanya and senior ZINWA officials last Friday toured the three points in Mutasa Central under ZINWAs’ Save Catchment Area where pipes will be connected to allow small-scale famers to draw water from Pungwe River.
Dr Sakupwanya said the provision of piped water for drinking and irrigation for Mutasa District was part of the Pungwe Basin Transboundary Integrated Water Resources Management and Development Programme (Pungwe Programme).
“This is basically a provision that was not implemented, but has always been contained in the Pungwe Basin Transboundary Integrated Water Resources Management and Development Programme known as the Pungwe Programme.
“It was agreed that people living in areas lying along the pipes that transmit water to Mutare from Pungwe must benefit from the infrastructure hence this initiative.
“One of the critical development interventions of the Pungwe Programme is the establishment of a Small-Scale Grants Fund focused on Integrated Water Resource Management and Development at community level,” said Dr Sakupwanya.
Cde Muchinguri-Kashiri echoed Dr Sakupwanya’s sentiments saying many areas in Manicaland and beyond already have more than one irrigation schemes, yet Mutasa Central did not have any.
“It is sad to note that many areas in Manicaland and beyond already have more than one irrigation scheme, yet Mutasa Central does not have any. I think the constituency deserves better in this regard. We are going to be working closely with ZINWA to see to it that we establish irrigation schemes soon.
“Other areas such as Chipinge or Chimanimani have five or six irrigation schemes yet Mutasa Central does not have any. Even when other areas get farming implements, Mutasa is left behind simply because we seem not ready to catch up with others.
“The choice of crops is yours and all we will assist with is the provision of irrigation facilities. You should now have meeting as clusters to have your intended projects on paper.
“This time around there is not going to be any room for people who sleep on duty. We are here for the groundwork for the irrigation project. Pungwe Project was initiated in 2000 when I was still the Governor of Manicaland and 15 years down the line Mutasa is not benefiting from the water from Pungwe River, yet this was part of the agreed items when the project was initiated,” she said.
Mutasa North Member of the National Assembly Cde Luke Masamvu, who was also part of the delegation, urged the people of Mutasa Central to work closely with Cde Muchinguri-Kashiri as well as Dr Sakupwanya for the realisation of the major irrigation project.
“We as Mutasa North have benefited immensely from Cde Muchinguri-Kashiri because we have always had a good working relationship with her. I want to urge you to work closely with Cde Muchinguri-Kashiri as well as Dr Sakupwanya for the realisation of the major irrigation project,” he said.
Online Reporter