Goromonzi (New Ziana)- The  dams being constructed across the country by the government will go a long way in supporting President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s rural industrialisation policy, an official said on Thursday.

This was said by ZINWA director of engineering and hydrological
services, engineer Takudza Makwangudze while briefing legislators from
the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries,
Water and Rural Development who were touring the Kunzvi Dam project in
Mashonaland East province.

The parliamentarians are on a countrywide assessment tour of ZINWA projects.

He said communities around the projects were the primary beneficiaries
of the dams currently under various stages of construction.

“With the new vision for the current dispensation, achieving vision 2030
is based on rural industrialization, meaning if we empower them through
building agricultural industries in their localities, they will be able
to develop into  industrialized communities where they draw economic
benefits from projects within their reach,” he said.

On Wednesday, he told the legislators that 12 Dams are currently at various stages of construction countywide.

Eng Makwangudze explained that Kunzvi Dam would empower locals in
Murehwa and Goromonzi districts.

“So this particular dam is going to empower locals through improved
agriculture production by way of irrigation of 500 hectares of land and
supplying portable water,” he said.

Kunzvi Dam is now 53 percent complete and expected to be finished at the
end of 2025. It is expected to also provide water to Harare Metropolitan
province.

“The communities are the immediate beneficiaries because we are going to
supply them their needs for portable water and also agricultural
purposes, then the excess will go to Harare,” said Eng Makwangudze.

The government, under the Second Republic is committed to providing
irrigation water for communities to ensure food security.

Some of the dams which the government, through ZINWA, is working on
include Gwayi-Shangani, Semwa, Chivhu and Thuli Manyange.

New Ziana