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Lovemore Chikova recently in Chivi
The dream of turning Chivi district into a greenbelt is fast being actualised considering the benefits now being realised from Chombwe piped water scheme that was resuscitated by President Mnangagwa in 2020.
Hundreds of households are already benefiting from the scheme that has lessened the burden of survival in this region that is known for receiving poor rains.
In fact, villagers in Chivi North and Chivi Central who are deriving benefits from the piped water scheme say their lives have been drastically changed in terms of food security and earning extra income.
Someone who last visited the area before the resuscitation of the scheme by President Mnangagwa would be shocked to discover that farming now dominates activities, a development that was never imagined in the past.
The farming season is now a permanent feature in Chombwe’s catchment area, with villagers taking to growing different crops throughout the year, for both consumption and the market.
President Mnangagwa’s intervention guided by the strategy of “leaving no one and no place behind” is indeed entrenching development and changing the outlook of communities for the better.
If someone wants to witness how this works, then they better visit villagers benefiting from Chombwe Piped Water Scheme.
Mrs Tsindikai Mapindure, who has a thriving maize crop and tomato plants at her homestead, said the water project was empowering the villagers.
“We used to walk for more than 10 kilometres to get some water for household chores, but now this is no longer the case,” she said. “Almost every household in this area has been empowered by Chombwe piped water project which was availed by President Mnangagwa.
“The projects I am doing at my homestead using water from Chombwe include maize and tomatoes under irrigation. I have already managed to put together school fees and uniforms for my children from selling maize and tomatoes.”
Mrs Mapingure said the water scheme was also crucial to the survival of livestock in the area.
“Our livestock is now healthy because of the availability of water. Before this scheme, the livestock was dying unnecessarily because of diseases associated with lack of water.
“We are now fetching better prices if we take the livestock to the market because of their good condition. I want to thank what our President, President Mnangagwa did for us in Chivi under village head Mhikuro.”
In another part serviced by Chombwe piped water scheme, at least 28 households have come together to start a citrus project.
Chairman of Mavambo Citrus Project, Mr Promise Chindiro said Chombwe piped water scheme helped them move away from problems associated with drought, with 28 households coming together to initiate the citrus project.
“President Mnangagwa has been preaching about Vision 2030 of achieving an empowered country in all respects and we do not want to be left behind, that is why we are playing our part,” he said.
“Our aim is that as part of this vision, 2030 all the beneficiaries should have been registered as directors of this project.
“When President Mnangagwa resuscitated this Chombwe piped water project, we came together as a community and decided to start a citrus project since water was now readily available. At least 28 households are on this project.
“We also do a lot of vegetables as a group to ensure we do not spend money on what we can grow for ourselves.
“These trees do not require much work. If we work hard in these early days and ensure the trees grow, then we can rest for the following years, with very little work required, but harvesting the fruits.”
Mr Chindiro said the Chombwe scheme came handy because there was very little to no rains in the area, with no boreholes and dams nearby.
He said they now required fencing off the citrus project area, fertilisers and chemicals.
To ensure success of the community project, they were also moving towards drip irrigation to ensure the trees got constant supply of water.
“Research has shown us that the trees can lose flowers because of drought,” said Mr Chindiro. “We would need the drip irrigation to keep constant supplies of water. We also need a borehole to complement Chombwe in cases of a breakdown.”
Mrs Martha Phiri, a committee member of a Pfumvudza demonstration plot which uses water from Chombwe said the piped water scheme had solved many of the community’s problems.
“We thank the wisdom of President Mnangagwa in coming here in 2020 to ensure everything about Chombwe is right on track,” she said. “This demonstration plot for Pfumvudza is doing wonders for us.
“We have managed good harvests of maize and now we have added a variety of vegetables and tomatoes we are growing in this plot. We no longer have challenges with issues like school fees and paying for other necessities because of the Chombwe piped water project.”
Chivi Rural District Council plumber for the project, Mr Rokin Vhinyu said he was at the frontline of witnessing the benefits of Chombwe piped water scheme since he visits most of the areas covered by the scheme either for repairs or checking on the system.
“Within a few months, I have witnessed this area being changed from struggling with drought to a greenbelt,” he said. “Almost everyone connected to the pipeline is now carrying out a project with regards to food production.
“This scheme covers a vast area, and sometimes it becomes difficult to attend to every reported fault. We appeal for some form of transport, even bicycles or motor cycles to ensure that we are able to cover the whole area and making sure the project is smooth.”
Chivi Rural District Council chief executive officer Mr Tariro Matavire said the scheme was benefiting the community, livestock and schools.
“Beside schools, we have communities and a lot of households are connected to the main line and have water taps at the homesteads,” he said.
“Apart from domestic uses, some people have stated agricultural projects using this water.
“We are also encouraging interested people along the way of the pipeline to open up gardens so that they can draw water from the mainline for irrigation.”
Chombwe piped water scheme was established in 1972, but collapsed in the late 1990s.
Under the Second Republic, Government availed funds to revive the scheme, whose catchment area include villages in Chivi North, Chivi Central, Mhandambabwe Business Centre and Chivi Growth Point.
Water for the scheme is drawn from the perennially flowing Tugwi River, which feeds off Muzhwi Dam upstream.
Online Reporter