National Budget boosts water resources

management of the country’s water resources.
Significant resources were proposed for developing new water sources, rehabilitation of irrigation infrastructure and, more importantly, water reticulation in urban communities.
Minister Biti made some bold proposals on developing and maintaining water infrastructure and dams for agriculture, industrial and domestic use. To that end the minister channelled millions of dollars to the cause but still conceded it fell short of the requirements.
Irrigation Development
Minister Biti acknowledged that the majority of peasant and new farmers were finding it difficult to engage in productive farming activities without irrigation facilities. He added that without sustainable irrigation schemes most farmers were failing to transform from subsistence to commercial farming where higher yields are realised.
The minister told the House that farmers brought the point home during budget consultations that “commercial farming without irrigation is no different from subsistence farming”.
The situation is worsened by the unpredictable variability in the rainfall pattern that adversely affects agricultural output, particularly in the southern parts of the country. Therefore, there is more urgent need to enhance efforts in irrigation development and rehabilitation.
“To sustain the current irrigation rehabilitation and development programme, I propose to allocate US$15 million targeting 56 schemes, measuring a combined 3 215,5ha,” Minister Biti said.
The minister’s position reaffirms Zinwa’s efforts in creating water sources like dams over the past decades. It means we at least have much water lying idle because the farmers cannot use it for lack of power or irrigation infrastructure.
The minister further stated the Government’s commitment to protecting the water sources from environmental degradation and environmentally unfriendly activities committed by some people in pursuit of their economic activities.
“Support for Government programmes towards initiatives to contain environmental degradation, by gold panners and other small-scale miners, industrial pollution and deforestation by farmers, should all be part of our budget processes,” he said.
Water and Sanitation
Minister Biti used his budget proposal to improve water supply and reticulation in towns and cities across the country. Most urban centres have dilapidated water and sewer reticulation that frequently burst or break down causing health disasters.
Due to the consistent interruption in clean water supply and breakdown of sewer systems Harare and other major urban areas experienced a devastating cholera outbreak in 2008 that killed over 4 000 people across the country.
The minister acknowledged that while there is evidence of modest recovery, most local authorities are still struggling to provide adequate water and sanitation services to residents on account of infrastructure that has surpassed its lifespan.
In most centres, including Harare, rehabilitation has to be undertaken alongside upgrading of the existing infrastructure, to take account of the larger demand arising out of the rural-urban drift.
In rural areas, the challenge relates to increased number of non-functional boreholes and water points, absence of proper maintenance and installation of new facilities.
“I propose to provide US$39,5 million for water and sewer infrastructure rehabilitation and upgrading in major cities and towns, as well as US$22,4 million towards water supply schemes for small towns and rural communities,” Biti said.
Dam Construction
The minister ably cited the water resource management strategy at the centre of achieving water security, the social well-being of the population and drought mitigation. He further argued that perennial water challenges for Bulawayo and Harare, for instance, were putting a premium on their future growth and development.
The water shortages do not only affect urban centres but rural areas as well. Absence of developed water bodies has meant that the agricultural potential of some regions has never been fully realised.
To that end the minister proposed a modest funding for dam construction around the country.
“I, therefore, propose to allocate US$50,9 million towards the following dam projects: Tokwe Murkosi Dam on-going works, US$38,2 million; Gwayi-Shangani Dam, US$8 million; and Mutange Dam, US$4.7 million,” he said.
Minister Biti further explained that dam construction is an expensive capital project and can only be adequately funded through Public Private Partnerships.
“With regards to the Kunzvi Dam project, Government will continue to look for suitable private partners to implement the project under Public Private Partnership arrangements,” Minister Biti said.
After all is said and done, the minister’s 2012 National Budget proposal shows commitment to help fulfil Zinwa’s core function and mandate of water resource management, equitable distribution and maintaining and rehabilitation of dams to ensure consistent water supply to the country.