Disquiet over delayed $47.8m irrigation project

CHENGETAI MURIMWA RECENTLY IN MASVINGO

Villagers in Chivi district, Masvingo Province, have expressed growing frustration over delays in the implementation of the US$47.8m Bwanya irrigation project .

Launched in 2020 through a partnership between the government, the Green Climate Fund and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the project was expected to transform the drought-prone region into a greenbelt through modern irrigation technologies.

Villagers donated their fields  to the project, hoping for improved livelihoods .

However, the ongoing delays have left them stranded without access to the land that once sustained them.

Spanning 156 hectares, the project is designed to introduce modern centre pivot and sprinkler irrigation systems , enabling  smallholder farmers to increase productivity.

Despite these ambitious goals, local several villagers and local leaders like Chief Madamombe, have  voiced concern over the lack of progress.

“We are worried about the delay because this land was our main source of food and income,” Chief Madamombe said.

The Bwanya Irrigation Scheme aims to serve as a model for climate-resilient farming across that can be replicated across the country.

While the current standstill has caused frustration, the project still holds promise for improving agricultural output and boosting livelihoods in Masvingo once operational.

Chairperson of the irrigation scheme, Ekem Tinago, emphasised the importance of the project, especially in the face of unpredictable rainfall patterns.

“Villagers donated their fields for this project, recognizing the urgent need for climate-resilient agriculture,” Tinago said.