Story by Providence Maraneli
THE rehabilitation of Wanezi Dam in Insiza District, Matabeleland South Province, is transforming rural livelihoods, with the project delivering irrigation, clean water and fisheries while advancing the Second Republic’s vision that “a dam is an economic concept.”
The integrated development project has turned the once drought-prone Wanezi area into a growing agricultural hub, supporting a thriving irrigation scheme, providing potable water to more than 700 homesteads and sustaining a fisheries project that is strengthening community resilience to climate change.
The rehabilitation has enabled farmers to shift from subsistence agriculture to commercially driven production, creating new income-generating opportunities and improving household livelihoods.
“Our lives have been transformed. We are a different community. We are growing commercial chilli, commercial maize and beans, which are giving us money,” one of the farmers, Chambika Nyamunganga said.
“We have grasped the concept of farming as a business, and we are grateful because we have been empowered,” another farmer added.
Besides driving the agricultural economy, the dam is supplying potable water to villagers.
“We have clean water in our community. We are able to provide water for our animals even in droughts,” a villager said.
“We should continue in unity and develop our communities. The project will help our people,” Chief Maduna stated.
The Wanezi project is part of the CAWEP project, where the government and its development partners invested more than US$17 million in irrigation development in five districts across the country.
“The objective is to align with Vision 2030 to ensure that there is food everywhere and every time. This is one of the food securities where we want to transform agriculture from being a way of life to business enterprises,” UNDP Resident Representative, Dr Ayondele Odusola said.
“We are happy to be collaborating in the transformation of these communities. That means a lot to the development of these communities, given the scenario that climate change is upon us,” British Embassy Representative King Lartey said.
Speaking after commissioning the Wanezi Dam, irrigation scheme and piped water scheme, the Minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources, Dr Anxious Masuka, reiterated the government’s commitment to building resilience against climate change.
“The development of the project was part of the President’s vision of a dam as an economy, where the dam must be the means to transform rural lives. What we have is what the President wants. Water is at the epicentre of rural transformation. Water is an economic enabler. As a country, we have 460 irrigation schemes. Our dream is to operate as business models,” he said.
Under the dam as an economic concept, the government envisions a situation where a dam project supports irrigation development, generates electricity, drives tourism and supports fisheries projects.
