Online Reporter
Patrick Chitumba [email protected]
THE Midlands Province is positioning itself for unlocking the dam economy to drive agricultural growth and rural job creation in line with Vision 2030, which seeks to improve livelihoods for local communities.
To ensure the success of the dam economy, the province has set plans in motion for an all-stakeholder conference in June 2026 to identify business opportunities around its strategic dams.
Government is already implementing a dam economy model to transform agriculture, improve food security, and drive rural industrialisation under Vision 2030.
By constructing and utilising high-impact dams, the goal is to climate-proof agriculture, enabling irrigation for over 350 000 hectares.
In an interview, Midlands Provincial Director for Agricultural Rural Development and Advisory Services, Ms Busiso Olga Mavankeni said the province is repositioning its dams as engines of economic growth through the dam economy strategy aimed at turning water infrastructure into hubs for farming, fisheries, tourism and rural industrialisation.
“The Midlands province is unlocking growth through the dam economy. The province is positioning itself to unlock new economic opportunities through the dam economy concept, a development approach that views dams not just as water storage facilities but as engines for economic growth,” she said.
Ms Mavankeni said the province’s true dam value lies not in the structure itself, but in what it produces for people and the economy.
Under the new approach, she noted that each dam will be developed to support multiple income-generating activities that create jobs and strengthen food security.
“Simply put, a dam is not the project, what matters is what the dam produces for people and the economy.
“A dam becomes valuable when it creates business opportunities, jobs, income and improved livelihoods for surrounding communities,” she said.
Ms Mavankeni said the Government driven model seeks to expand the use of Midlands’ dams beyond basic water supply and limited irrigation.
She said identified activities include year-round irrigated farming, fish farming and commercial fisheries, tourism through lodges and eco-tourism, recreation such as boating and water sports, clean water supply for communities and industry, wildlife conservation and power generation where feasible.
“Through the dam economy approach, each dam can support multiple economic activities such as irrigated farming for year-round food production, fish farming and commercial fisheries, tourism development, including lodges, chalets and eco-tourism, recreation activities such as boating and water sports, clean water supply for communities and industries, wildlife conservation initiatives and power generation where feasible, “ she said.
Ms Mavankeni said several strategic dams have been earmarked for immediate focus, including Mundi-Mataga in Mberengwa, Palawani in Zvishavane, Mtange and Sengwa in Gokwe South, and Nyamafufu in Chirumanzu.
While these already contribute to water supply and irrigation, Ms Mavankeni said their full economic potential remains untapped.
“The Midlands province has identified several strategic dams with significant untapped potential, including Mundi-Mataga Dam (Mberengwa district), Palawani Dam (Zvishavane), Mtange Dam (Gokwe South), Sengwa Dam (Gokwe South), Nyamafufu Dam (Chirumanzu), among others.
“While these dams already contribute to water supply and irrigation, their full economic potential has not yet been realised,” she explained.
Ms Mavankeni said the province recognises that although water infrastructure is in place, economic activities around many dams remain limited.
“In simple terms: Midlands has the water, now it must build the businesses around that water. The next step is to engage all key stakeholders across the water value chain to identify viable business opportunities for each dam,” she said.
To drive this vision, Ms Mavankeni said the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanization and Water Resources Development is planning an all-stakeholder dam economy conference for Midlands Province in June.
She said the conference will bring together key Government players, investors, communities, technical experts and development partners to map out practical opportunities and implementation strategies.
“The goal is to transform dams into economic growth hubs that create jobs, attract investment, strengthen food security and support rural industrialisation,” she said.
Ms Mavankeni reiterated that the dam economy has the potential to make Midlands province a national leader in water-based economic development.
“The future lies not only in building dams, but in building thriving economies around them,” she said.
