Zinwa rehabilitates irrigation schemes

Patrick Chitumba, Midlands Bureau Chief

ZIMBABWE National Water Authority (Zinwa) has, in line with its new mandate of irrigation development, rehabilitated several irrigation schemes with a total hectarage of 4 423 around the country.

Zinwa corporate communications and marketing manager Mrs Marjorie Munyonga said the rehabilitation exercise is expected to help improve productivity and efficient water usage at the beneficiary irrigation schemes.

She said the national exercise has been successfully implemented at irrigation schemes, which include Silalabuhwa in Insiza, Mushandike in Chivi, Mapanzure in Masvingo, Mutange in Gokwe, Sherwood Block in Kwekwe, Seke Sanyati in Sanyati, Chomutamba and Nyamangara in Mashonaland West and Bonde in Birchenough.

“Rehabilitation works were successfully completed at irrigation schemes such as Arda Transau, Chilonga, Mananda, Sherwood Block, Lukosi, Nyamangara, Chomutamba, Taona, Deure and Bonde. Other schemes that have been successfully rehabilitated are Mhakwe, Vimbanayi, Chibuwe, Musaverema, Mushandike, Mapanzure and Silalabuhwa,” said Mrs Munyonga.

The rehabilitation works, she said, included repairs of conveyance canals, silt removal, resuscitation of pumping works, installation of pump sets, construction of pump houses, and installation of electric motors and electrical improvements.

“Rehabilitation is also ongoing and quite advanced at River Ranch in Beitbridge, Bubi Lupane in Lupane, Hauke, Bubi district, Chimhanda in Mount Darwin, Chitora in Mutoko district, Seke in Seke, Sanyati in Sanyati, Nenhowe in Mutare and Mutange.

At Mutange Irrigation Scheme in Gokwe, Zinwa has constructed a 2 400-metre conveyance system, installed suction pipes and carried out land clearance and repairs of centre pivots,” said Mrs Munyonga.

In 2020, Government reviewed the mandate of Zinwa to include the development of irrigation infrastructure, including infield conveyance works in a move aimed at improving productivity at the irrigation schemes and boosting the uptake of water from dams.