Elita Chikwati Senior Agriculture Reporter
Seven weirs have been completed countrywide under the Command Water Harvesting Programme being implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Water and Climate through the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (zinwa). The programme is being undertaken as part of Government’s 100-day “quick wins”.

Command Water Harvesting Programme is aimed at improving communities’ access to water through the construction of weirs, repairing of small dams, de-silting of communal dams and drilling of boreholes. The weirs and small dams will allow for the storage of water during summer for use during the dry season.

The water will be used for the irrigation of fields, in dip tanks, provision of drinking water for livestock as well as meeting other communal water requirements. The Command Water Harvesting Programme is expected to boost both water and food security.

Zinwa corporate and communications manager, Mrs Marjorie Munyonga, yesterday said a total of 377 sites for the construction of weirs had already been identified and construction was at various stages of completion.

“Those completed are Muzezengwa Weir in Mwenezi District, Kasiya and Mangura weirs in Nyaminyami District, Chebvute Weir in Masvingo, Kenokwe, Kasibo and Mansuma weirs in Hwange.

“In Manicaland, 53 sites have been identified and two weir sites in the province namely Dekete and Ruseya 1 in Mutasa Central are now at an advanced stage of completion at 85 percent and 70 percent respectively. Eleven other sites are under construction and at different stages of completion. Work is yet to start at the remainder of the sites,” she said.

Mrs Munyonga said 78 weir sites had been identified in Mashonaland Central with Nyamaruro in Shamva now at 80 percent completion while Shinje weir in Guruve was 75 percent complete.

As for Mashonaland East, 87 sites have been identified and Mutunduma Dam in Marondera West is 85 percent complete with the spillway being the only outstanding feature. Another site. Pfidze in Mudzi West, is 70 percent complete and will be completed once the required cement is delivered on the site.