Derick Tsimba
Through the utilization of the National Development Strategy (NDS1) the New Dispensation has managed to put in place national development strategies across the nation that are bringing out results.
As a result of the economic revival by the New Dispensation, recently President Emmerson Mnangagwa commissioned Muchekeranwa Dam built through a public private partnership. The dam shall provide water to Harare, Mashonaland East and Manicaland Provinces.
Adding value to the dam, President Mnangagwa launched Muchekeranwa irrigation project and the Presidential Fisheries Scheme.
Harare and Marondera are going to gain access to the dam via the Muchekeranwa-Wenimbe pipe line after it was officially opened by President Mnangagwa.
Zimbabwe has become a home to many developmental installations with the latest being also the progress being made at Hwange coal-powered station.
The country heavily relies on power as its economy remains strongly agriculturally-based with need for electricity to irrigate wheat and other agricultural products. Electricity demand on industrial production and mining continues to rise.
Going forward, the New Government having understood the importance of self-reliance, through the NDS1, electricity generation was not overlooked and the electricity expansion strategy has started to pay off.
Today already the partnership between Government and a Chinese company, Tsingshan Holding Group has taken shape and the first construction of a 150 000 tonne coke battery was completed in April this year. This month of May the Global electricity giant has begun the construction of the second 150 000-tonne coke battery and the third battery with the same capacity should also be constructed in November this year in Hwange, Matabeleland North Province.
Hwange coal-fired power station remains the largest coal-fired power station in Zimbabwe with 920MW installed capacity and the 14th largest thermal station in Southern African.
After the completion of the expansion project which began in 2019 the capacity of Hwange coal-fired power station would reach a maximum of 1520MW.
Efforts of the New Dispensation are clearly spelt out as in the case of Tongwi-Mukosi Dam construction located in Masvingo. Government managed to fund the construction of the largest inland 89, 2 metre high dam wall until completion. Today the dam has a capacity of 1, 8 billion cubic metres when filled up. The Dam also resulted in a boast for the agriculture sector as it has potential to irrigate 25 000 hectares all-year-round in Masvingo Province.
The tireless efforts by the New Dispensation is bound to create a green belt in Masvingo Province, as the Dam now provides irrigation water for the Lowveld sugar estates and all the farmers located in the dams catchment area.
Bulawayo has not been left out by the Second Republic through the construction of the Gwayi-Shangani Dam. The City of Kings has been affected greatly by the shortage of water due to dry rainfall spells. So the Gwayi-Shangani Dam whose construction was launched by President Emmerson Mnangagwa on completion will provide water to Bulawayo through a 260 km pipeline. The communities around the Dam in the arid Matabeleland region are also going to benefit especially farmers who would now venture in the irrigation farming.
Water remains the basis for life and development in any nation. The New Dispensation has since managed to come up with lasting solutions for water challenges in the country.
Mentioning just a few projects being carried out by the New Government under the NDS1, construction of the Harare-Beitbridge highway cannot be over looked. After its completion Government shall continue with construction works of the Harare-Chirundu highway completing a modern highway route from Beitbridge to Chirundu that connects Southern Africa to the North linking the SADC region to the rest of Africa.
