Story by Mercy Bofu-Matinha
GOVERNMENT has released funding for the rehabilitation of Makonese Dam in Chivi North, a year after heavy rains destroyed the facility and disrupted irrigation activities that supported hundreds of households.
The dam, located in the Denge area, previously irrigated more than 200 hectares of land and sustained approximately 720 households. Its destruction last year halted irrigation schemes and affected food production in a district prone to dry conditions.
Authorities say the rehabilitation programme will restore irrigation capacity while introducing 38 Village Business Units aimed at broadening participation and strengthening rural economic resilience.
Residents have welcomed the development, describing the dam as central to household food security and income generation.
“This dam has been very important to this community, sustaining many families. However, when it was destroyed, as a community, we were shot in the foot. We are happy that the Government has prioritised the rehabilitation of this dam as many of our irrigation schemes are now going to be resuscitated,” she said.
Another resident, Mrs Dambudzo Tongofa, said the rehabilitation programme will also see the establishment of Village Business Units, which will accommodate families previously not part of irrigation schemes, ensuring broader community participation and inclusive development. She added that the project will create employment opportunities for local people.
Chivi North Legislator, Honourable Godfrey Mukungunugwa, commended the initiative, describing it as a clear demonstration of Government’s commitment to rural development. He said the rehabilitation of the dam, together with the planned 38 Village Business Units, will significantly transform the area, which is prone to dry conditions.
“Our President, Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa, is proving to be a listening leader, and he is committed to rural development. We are happy that just a year after the disaster, work to rehabilitate this dam has started, and, on top of that, 38 Village Business Units are going to be established around this area. We consider this massive in terms of turning around the fortunes of this area, which is known to be dry,” he highlighted.
The Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (RIDA) said assessments carried out after the dam’s destruction revealed that Makonese Dam had been irrigating more than 200 hectares while sustaining 720 households.
RIDA Director, Ms Sitshengiso Zivhare, said, “After the destruction of Makonese Dam, as RIDA we came here to do an assessment and we realised that this dam was irrigating more than 200 hectares, at the same time sustaining 720 households. Hence, we committed to rehabilitating this dam. Apart from dam rehabilitation, we are also going to establish Village Business Units. We contracted Traversal Trading to do the work, and we are looking forward to seeing progress as the work has already started.”
Traversal Trading Executive Administrator, Ms Esnath Mucheni, confirmed that work is now underway.
“As Traversal Trading, work has started for the rehabilitation of Makonese Dam. Our people are already on the ground, and we have since drilled some boreholes in this area as we refurbish Makonese Dam. We are looking forward to completing this project in the next eight to 12 months,” she said.
The broader programme is expected to be completed within the next two years.
Through such projects, the Government continues to strengthen rural development, restore critical infrastructure and enhance household food security.
