Blessings Chidakwa Municipal Correspondent

Some communities in Mashonaland East are set to benefit from the construction of two dams, being built to hold water largely for irrigation, although the new Marondera University of Agricultural Science and Chivu Town will benefit more.

Causeway Dam, 30 kilometres outside Marondera, should be ready this year and Chivhu Dam next year.

Causeway Dam will provide water to an irrigation scheme earmarked for local farmers and villagers that were moved to pave way for its construction a few years back.

The villagers were resettled on land in the vicinity of the dam.

The dam, which is being constructed along Macheke River, is also set to supply water to Marondera University of Agricultural Science and Technology and neighbouring farms.

Chivhu Dam, which was allocated $41 million by Finance Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube in the 2018 National Budget and is being constructed along Zibahwe River, will benefit residents of Chivhu Town and surrounding farms.

On completion, it is going to hold 26 million cubic metres of water.

In an interview last week, Mashonaland East Provincial Affairs Minister Cde Apollonia Munzverengi said, “The handover ceremony of the Causeway Dam is most likely to be this year since the superstructure is complete. What is being finalised is the dam wall with its construction underway.

“The dam wall had been delayed to pave way for the relocation of about 53 families that were in the catchment of the dam area. The Ministry of Local Government and Public works have since availed funds for their relocation and the exercise was done in earnest.”

The Government released $2,7 million to relocate the families that were affected by construction of the dam.

Minister Munzverengi said the move to settle the affected families near the dam was prompted by the idea that they had to benefit from the water source through irrigation schemes.

On construction of Chivhu Dam, the minister said there was also notable progress.

“At Chivhu Dam there is trenching underway to pave way for the erection of a dam wall. It is likely that it will be commissioned next year,” she said.

“Downstream there would be an irrigation scheme while the other side will encompass tourism facilities. We want people to come and spend weekends and holidays there.”

The dam projects are among other Government-funded dam projects that include the long-awaited Kunzvi Dam, Mutange in Gokwe, Gwayi-Shangani in Matabeleland North and Marovanyati in Buhera.