Vungu resuscitates irrigation schemes

GWERU – Vungu Constituency led by its Member of Parliament Omega Sibanda is working on
rehabilitating irrigation schemes that once gave the constituency a bread basket status.
Sibanda said work was underway to rehabilitate Mkoba, Mambanjeni, Shagari and Insukamini
Irrigation schemes.
The rehabilitation process is at different levels of progression, the legislator said.
“Vungu used to be the bread basket of horticulture as vegetables, fruits and other produce were
coming from here but there is nothing now.
“There were wetlands were people used to do a lot of irrigation and small farming.
“We were the biggest producer of beef through cattle ranging but now it is not like that, things have
changed,” he said.
Sibanda said the biggest challenge was unavailability of water as dams have silted.
“We had our irrigation schemes namely Mkoba, Mambanjeni, Shagari and Insukamini and only
Insukamini is functional. Wetlands have dried up because there was no care,” he said.
Sibanda said to counter the challenges, they are reconstructing the constituency.
“Mambanjeni is undergoing reconstruction through the government and they have changed the
piping system which has been down for about 26 years.
“We have created a watering pattern which is different from what it was before. We are going to do
irrigation through centre pivots. Everything is set,” he said.
The legislator said Shagari needs dam wall construction which collapsed “but there are some
positives in terms of repairs,”
Although farming is being done at Insukamini, Sibanda said it was not operating at full scale due to
mismanagement.
“There is water, there is everything, but if you go to that scheme the fisheries component is no
longer there,” he said.
The MP said there should be target approach when talking about Insukamini.
“Let’s partner supermarkets, people who can sell these products for Insukamini. We should have
maize, cabbages and other produce at a time when they are not flooded on the market.”
Mkoba Irrigation Scheme needs desiltation so that it operates all year round.
“As I speak, it only operates like people who do not have irrigation because when the dam dries
usually before the end of the year there is nothing taking place.”
Sibanda said there was need for a different mindset.

“We need to come back to the basics and ensure that we yield water as much as possible so that we
have a constant supply of water throughout the year.
“Even in the wetlands, I am happy the Environmental Management Agency is assisting. We are trying
to resuscitate one of the biggest wetlands Sikombingo,” he said.

The irrigation schemes rehabilitation exercise was being done by donors in partnership with the
government.