Shongedzai Mugwagwa
Government through the District Development Fund (DDF) has set aside more than $600 000 for district development projects for Chimanimani district in 2019, the Harare Post reports.
Investigation carried out by this publication revealed that Chimanimani has so far received more than $200 000 from the allocated fund into irrigation schemes.
DDF Provincial Coordinator, Mr Robert Chawatama said that the funds were being used to rehabilitate irrigation projects under the National Accelerated Irrigation Rehabilitation and Development programme to improve the livelihoods of people across the country.
DDF has poured money at a time the Manicaland Province was badly attacked by a tropical cyclone Idai which left a trail of destruction to crops, destruction of infrastructure, loss of livestock and loss of human life. The tropical cyclone left Manicaland habitants exposed and vulnerable to hunger coupled by predicted Elnino induced droughts.
Under the programme, DDF is expected to restore 2 000 hectares of irrigable land per year in each district.
“We are still working towards finishing the draft for the Chimanimani area, but work has already commenced,” said Mr Chawatama.
“In Cashel Valley, we have since developed 386 hectares of irrigable land that is being utilised by 381 families who irrigate using flood irrigation system.
“We drilled and installed three new boreholes for potable water, 13 storage dams were de-silted,” said Chawatama.
Mr Chawatama said DDF has also rehabilitated a damaged weir at Svinurai scheme and constructed new weirs at three irrigation schemes and completed construction of a take-off point at Mandima scheme.
“The first phase was completed with a total of 109 farmers benefiting from the tilled 70 hectares, the second phase comprising 100 hectares will commence after the servicing of tractors by the Department of Mechanisation,” he added.
Mr Chawatama said this during a repairing and flushing out exercise of a water point at Mpererezu in the Chimanimani district. The water point would service Chibuwe, Nenhowe and Nemaramba villages as well as the irrigation scheme.
Mr Chawatama said Government has also allocated $310 000 for the 100 hectare Chigodora irrigations scheme and work was expected to start in the second quarter of this year.
