Chronicle Editor
Robin Muchetu, Senior Reporter
MATABELELAND South has embarked on different developmental projects with the availability of water being a priority among other things that will improve the livelihoods of communities in the province.
Tuli-Manyange Dam construction in Gwanda District is one of the high-priority projects that the Government is earmarking to complete soon.
Mr Richmond Ncube the Acting Permanent Secretary for Provincial Affairs and Devolution in Matabeleland South Province gave an update on some of the projects.
“Tuli-Manyange Dam in Gwanda is one project that is being undertaken, however, the project implementation is being slowed down by inadequate and inconsistent funding,” he said.
Once completed, the dam which has a holding capacity of 35 million cubic meters will provide raw water for irrigation purposes and will boost food security in the province.
Matabeleland South is an area with low rainfall and communities have been struggling to be food-secure and the dam is expected to bring relief to the communities with 2 000 hectares of set to be put under irrigation once the dam is completed.
Mr Ncube said the various devolution projects that focus on water supply have seen communities accessing clean water for household use.
“With the drilling of boreholes and rehabilitation of water points and sanitation and hygiene infrastructure, communities are now able to access clean, reliable, and safe water supply. We want them to make good use of the water to engage in farming and income-generating projects,” said Mr Ncube.
He said several irrigation rehabilitation programmes were in place.
“A lot of irrigation schemes were rehabilitated through partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and this is set to enhance agricultural productivity in the schemes,” he said.
In Plumtree, equipping of the water treatment plant laboratory and purchase of quality control testing machines together with turbidity meters, chlorine meters, and pH meters has been done so far while Umzingwane Rural District Council has seen Emlanjeni Phase One water reticulation covering 200 metres of trenching, bedding and PVC pipe-laying as well as the installation of six gate valves being done.
Mr Ncube said under the Rural Development Programme, borehole drilling has been done in all rural provinces in Zimbabwe. This has aided in promoting the health and well-being of communities as they have access to clean water.
Drilling and solarisation of a borehole in Ndabankulu at Maribeha Primary School in Matobo District was done for the community. The borehole will benefit the surrounding communities by having increased water and sanitation services.
In terms of dam rehabilitation, Pfakanye Dam, has been rehabilitated with water supply for livestock, and domestic and nutrition gardens improved. There is also access to potable water for livestock and irrigation water.
Mr Ncube, however, lamented the effects of inflation saying some of the projects they initiated in 2023 were affected by price increases thereby delaying the contractors.
The Acting Permanent Secretary also said the province hosted the First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnagagwa on several occasions as she embarked on her philanthropic work that had a positive impact in the province in 2023.
“The Agric4She programmes objective was to empower women farmers through support in terms of expertise and inputs. The First Lady’s cookout competitions were also done as she sought to revive cultural traditional meals as a way of promoting healthy nutritional living by engaging contestants to gather and prepare traditional foods found in the province. The programme also brought funfair to participants and communities at the district and provincial levels. Some contestants from the province also participated in the national competitions,” he said.
The Ixhiba/ Nhanga programme sought to revive family cultural values of love, respect and faithfulness among married couples. Through this programme which was hosted by several districts, moral values were restored.
The First Lady’s tree planting programme was also implemented in various districts of Matabeleland South as a way of restoring nature, supporting biodiversity, fighting climate change and empowering local communities through the provision of seedlings for indigenous and exotic trees.–@NyembeziMu
Online Reporter