Rodgers Irimayi and Thembinkosi Ncube
As the nation improves in economic activities, Masvingo province is expected to play a pivotal role in the agricultural industry as its large water bodies are planned to irrigate thousands of hectares of land.

On April 24, President Mnangagwa dispatched a high powered delegation led by Local Government and Public Works Minister July Moyo to Masvingo for a sensitisation meeting with local leadership in Mwenezi.

The delegation included Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Resettlement Minister Anxious Masuka, Finance and Economic Development Deputy Minister Clemence Chiduwa and Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Ezra Chadzamira.

The meeting was aimed to unveil a proposed irrigation programme that is expected to take up 25 000 hectares.

Speaking to the local leadership Minister Masuka said the Government planned to do irrigation development, which will involve everyone and benefit the local communities.

He highlighted that out of the country’s 8,1 billion cubic meters of water, more than half was in Masvingo, hence the obligation to commercialise agriculture in the province.

The move is set to improve livelihoods of Masvingo people as the nation progress towards achieving Vision 2030 of an upper middle income economy.

Minister Masuka said the target for the province was to produce at least 50 percent of the national growth agricultural requirements because it has more than 50 percent of the country’s water.

He emphasized the importance of involving local traditional and political leadership at grassroots in government programmes.

“When it comes to presidential schemes, no household, no village, no chief, should be left behind,” Minister Masuka said.
Part of the areas that are to benefit from the irrigation scheme include Pikinini Joana with 400ha and Magomana 100ha, which will benefit from Manyuchi Dam in Mwenezi district.

Engineers are said to have visited the irrigation sites for assessment.

The expanded irrigation scheme is also planned to draw water from several giant reservoirs, which include Tugwi Mukosi Dam and Manyuchi Dam.

Another water reservoir, Runde-Tende Dam is already earmarked to be constructed on the confluence of Runde and Tende rivers in Chivi.

The water from the dam will also be utilised to irrigate plantations in Mwenezi. Although Masvingo falls in the dry regions 4 and 5, several rivers pass through the province and if properly directed as planned by government, irrigation schemes will turn the southern part of the country into a green belt.