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Precious Manomano Herald Reporter
Construction of Vungu Dam in Silobela is progressing well with the contractor in the process of building the temporary coffer dam to divert river flow so that work can start on the main works.
This dam when complete will allow thousands of farmers to benefit from the irrigation scheme. National food self-sufficiency is a key goal of the Government’s economic blueprint, which identifies food security and nutrition as key drivers of economic revival.
Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) resident engineer, Fanuel Zivave said the dam will irrigate over 1 200ha, provide clean drinking water to a local business centre and surrounding communities as well as create jobs for local communities.
“The main purpose of the dam is irrigation and also provides water for household and industrial use in Silobela. It is also going to provide tourism, fishing and food sufficiency in the district. The three irrigation areas to be irrigated by water from this dam have been identified. We are going to create a green belt in this district so people are going to benefit a lot.
“Some of the local people were employed by the contractor. We are employing the local community on this project. This is a direct benefit. Once this area is irrigated people will get food and their lives will be improved as their hardships are eliminated. School drop outs will be eliminated. The community will also benefit from good food like fish,” he said.
Zinwa also in the process of identifying the number of people being affected by the project so that relevant authorities will make a decision on what should be done.
The project highlights the Government’s investment in strategic water bodies around the country. It is envisaged that construction of new water bodies will help support the switch from rain-fed agriculture and help food- insecure communities through provision of water for both irrigation and fisheries.
This is critical for Zimbabwe, which is largely an agriculture-based economy with most of its industrial output using the raw materials from farming.
Projects manager of Grindale Engineering, Mr Gerald Mudzamiri, said the company was going to employ over 400 workers from the community to work on the project.
“In order to work on dry area, we are constructing a coffer dam. This is what is supposed to be done before construction of the main dam. During construction we will receive floods from upstream during the rainy season so this one is going to divert water so that we will work on the footprint of the dam.
“If you do not do that the floods will just pass through and we won’t be able to do some excavations on the river bank. So this small dam helps us to divert the river so that we work on the footprint of the dam during the rainy season,” he said.
Traditional leaders of the area also praised the initiative saying it will go a long way in alleviating poverty and hunger in the community.
Headman of Ward 25, Mr Kossana Nkiwane, said they are grateful to have a dam which will sustain the families in the community.
“Water is life hence this project will enable us to earn a living because we can now grow different types of crops which is essential for our living. Children can now go to school because we can acquire cash from our produce to send them to school. We are very grateful for the Government on this initiative,” he said.
The Second Republic is constructing dams across the country to address water challenges and also climate-proof the agricultural sector which remains the mainstay of the country’s economy.
Online Reporter