Online Reporter
Sikhulekelani Moyo
[email protected]
PEOPLE of Wanezi in Insiza District’s Ward 9 are counting new opportunities in water, food production and income generation following the official commissioning of the rehabilitated Wanezi Dam and associated irrigation infrastructure by Government and its development partners.
The commissioning marks the completion of key components under the Climate Adaptation, Water and Energy Programme (CAWEP), a £14,1 million (US$17 million) initiative funded by the United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Speaking at the event, UNDP Resident Representative Dr Ayodele Odusola said CAWEP had come at a critical time when the world was facing a triple planetary crisis comprising climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.
He said climate shocks were becoming more frequent and costly and that the project was designed to address these structural challenges.
Dr Odusola said Zimbabwe faces a warmer and drier future characterised by more heatwaves, erratic rainfall patterns and prolonged dry spells, posing a major threat to the country’s predominantly rain-fed agriculture sector.
“CAWEP feeds into this bigger picture within UNDP to ensure all people in Zimbabwe, especially the most vulnerable and marginalised, benefit from greater environmental stability and robust food systems,” he said.
Dr Odusola said the programme forms part of UNDP’s broader climate resilience portfolio that has already reached 96 900 people in Insiza through the Green Climate Fund Climate Resilience Project.
He thanked the UK Government for the US$17 million grant and Government for its support and commitment towards the programme’s implementation.
“The commissioning is not marking the end but a continuation of support to ensure sustainability,” he said.
Three years after its launch, CAWEP has transformed the Cyclone Dineo-damaged Wanezi earth dam into a 1,7 megalitre masonry dam complete with an access bridge.
Other completed works include a 30-hectare centre pivot community irrigation scheme benefiting 76 households, a seven-hectare drip irrigation scheme at Wanezi Secondary School, 11 water points supplying potable water to at least 3 315 people, 33 biogas digesters, an automatic weather station and a solar cook stove pilot project.
The irrigation scheme is already in its first production cycle, with 36 hectares planted to maize, sugar beans and chilli.
Projected harvests stand at 119,2 tonnes, with expected sales of US$65 600 against production costs of US$38 220, resulting in a projected gross margin of approximately US$27 380.
To secure markets for the produce, Whitney Paprika has contracted 10 hectares of chilli destined for export to
Germany and the United States, while Montgomery Processors is facilitating an additional 10 to 15 hectares of peas beginning in July this year.
Farmers have also received financial and technical support, including a US$9 939 loan from AFC Bank for maize production as well as farming equipment such as a 600-litre boom sprayer and a three-disc plough.
Infrastructure and crops valued at US$152 226, including pumps, the centre pivot and solar systems, have been insured through CBZ Insurance.
The irrigation scheme has now been formally registered as the Wanezi Agriculture Cooperative Society Limited with support from the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprise Development.
Significant progress has also been recorded in capacity building, with 171 youths trained in vocational skills, 190 beneficiaries equipped with village savings and lending skills and 234 farmers trained in business and entrepreneurship, including 177 women.
UNDP also facilitated a US$150 000 de-risking and revolving loan facility through Virl Financial Services.
To date, US$209 550 has been disbursed to 448 entrepreneurs across Chivi, Binga, Chipinge and Insiza districts.
In Wanezi alone, 87 enterprises accessed US$30 448 and generated US$70 737 in income.
Commissioning the infrastructure, Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Dr Anxious Masuka said the reconstruction aligns with President Mnangagwa’s vision of ensuring that every dam transforms lives and livelihoods.
“We are adding a fifth component to say, every dam should generate electricity, have an irrigation, and the whole community should be able to get water and fisheries for consumption and for business,” said Dr Masuka.
He announced that Government would begin nationwide dam assessments next month and urged farmers to adopt Pfumvudza/Intwasa conservation agriculture techniques ahead of a likely El Niño season.
“The nation is looking forward to these dams and irrigations to provide food for the nation during the time when the rains are low,” he said.
