Story by Tafara Chikumira
CONSTRUCTION works at the multimillion-dollar Vungu dam in Silobela are on course, with contractors racing against time to ensure the project is completed within the projected timeframe.
The water body, which is being constructed to the tune of US$87 million is set to be completed in a record three years, as it is part of the Second Republic’s high impact projects.
Upon completion, the dam will have a mini hydro plant, provide water for consumption and irrigation and be home to a fisheries project.
The dam will have a capacity to irrigate over 1 200 hectares of land on the nearby irrigation scheme, thereby creating a greenbelt in the semi-arid region.
“This is a massive project in this area of Silobela. We have been remembered as a community. Our area is very dry and as such we look forward to having gardens which will help us with income,” said a community member.
“We are already witnessing the shaping of vision 2030. We also here there will be clean water to be generated here. This is commendable as we want to witness people coming here,” noted another.
Silobela Constituency legislator Honourable Jonah Nyevera said, “We are very delighted as a constituency for this milestone in our area. We are going to establish a mini town here at crossroads.”
Government says the project is one of the many being undertaken by the Second Republic in line with the inclusive development agenda as explained by Midlands Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Honourable Owen Ncube.
“The Second Republic is steadfast in guaranteeing development reaches every corner of our beloved country. Projects such as Vungu projects which had remained idle for long are now being resuscitated,” he explained.
Meanwhile Honourable Ncube and some top government officials toured Silobela Hospital where he witnessed the new theatre machine to be operational beginning of next month.
The new machine will result in the hospital conducting some major operations which used to be referred to big hospitals like Kwekwe and Gweru.
