Harare (New Ziana) – The government has approved the long-awaited development master plan for Tugwi-Mukosi dam and surrounding areas, a cabinet minister has said.
Known as the Combination Master plan, the document seeks to guide and regulate development around the dam, the country’s largest inland water body.
It was drawn up by a consortium of local universities and will be administered by the Tugwi-Mukosi Combination Master Plan Authority.
The plan incorporates, among other things, harbours, holiday homes, golf courses, nature and game viewing and irrigation schemes.
Speaking after cabinet, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Monica Mutsvangwa said the dam presented an assortment of opportunities for development, particularly agricultural.
“Cabinet considered and approved the Tugwi-Mukosi Combination Master Plan as presented by the Minister of Local Government and Public Works, Honourable July Moyo. The nation is being informed that the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works commissioned a consortium of universities to prepare the Tugwi-Mukosi Combination Master Plan,” she said.
“The master plan has since been presented to the Tugwi-Mukosi Combination Master Plan Authority. Noting that the Tugwi-Mukosi Dam and its environs present excellent opportunities for accelerated agricultural and irrigation development, Cabinet agreed that three new irrigation schemes measuring 3 852ha will be established, with the Banga Irrigation Scheme being expanded from 64ha to 195ha. Tugwi-Mukosi Dam alone has the potential to irrigate about 40 000ha of land in the country’s Lowveld,” she added.
Mutsvangwa said because of its proximity to the Great Zimbabwe Monuments and the Kruger-Gonarezhou-Gazaland game parks, the dam will create a regional tourism belt that will increase the country’s opportunities in tourism and related downstream industries.
“An implementation agency will soon be established to coordinate development across socio-economic sectors. Amenities such as schools, health centres, business nodes, heritage sites, museums, hotels, lodges, training institutes will be developed over an area spanning two rural district councils and extending upstream and downstream of the Tugwi-Mukosi Dam. Other developments will incorporate harbours, holiday homes, golf courses, nature and game viewing,” she said.
“A recreation park and conservation areas will be developed, while a fish processing plant will be established near Tugwi-Mukosi. There will be a harbour and light house control tower, while a power generation plant on the dam will provide communities and businesses with clean energy and drive irrigation projects in support of household and national food security.”
New Ziana
