Story by Gay Matambo
CHIVI District in Masvingo Province is recording notable gains in agricultural production following the expansion of irrigation development projects that are transforming livelihoods and strengthening food security for smallholder farmers in the traditionally arid area.
Through a combination of government programmes, international partnerships and community-driven initiatives, water resources from major dams are now being harnessed to support year-round farming. The developments are gradually reshaping Chivi into a growing agricultural hub, despite its dry climatic conditions.
Key projects underpinning the transformation include the Gororo and Bwanya irrigation schemes, alongside several village business units that are collectively benefiting thousands of farmers across the district. The schemes are enabling communities to produce crops consistently, reducing dependence on erratic rainfall and improving household incomes.
Speaking on the sidelines of a provincial stakeholders’ engagement meeting, Masvingo Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Honourable Ezra Chadzamira, said the irrigation drive was central to the government’s rural industrialisation agenda.
He noted that water from Tugwi-Mukosi Dam, which previously served other regions, is now being channelled to support irrigation in Chivi, while water from Muzhwi Dam has been redirected from Lowveld cane fields to local farming schemes.
“As we concluded the all stakeholders engagement meetings, we were also discussing issues to do with development here in Chivi in terms of agriculture. Chivi benefitted immensely from water in Tugwi Mukosi which is being used for irrigation purposes. Muzhwi dam used to irrigate cane in the Lowveld but now the water is now being channelled to irrigation schemes in Chivi. We want to thank the Second Republic for rolling out irrigation development projects in areas like Chivi where no one has ever imagined that crops can thrive but through irrigation they are thriving,” he said.
Local leaders welcomed the engagements, saying they provided an important platform for aligning development priorities and addressing challenges affecting communities.
Chivi North legislator, Honourable Godfrey Mukungunugwa, said the meetings were vital for sharing information and strengthening coordination among stakeholders involved in development programmes.
“These meetings are important for information dissemination purposes. We are able to access vital information in terms of developing our areas.”
Traditional leader Chief Nemauzhe echoed the sentiments, describing the engagements as an opportunity to assess progress and chart the way forward, while Chivi District Development Co-ordinator, Mr Innocent Matingwina, emphasised the need for communities to maximise local resources and find home-grown solutions to development challenges.
“These meetings should be conducted regularly. They are an eye opener and a platform for us as local leadership to review our successes and also map the way forward where challenges are concerned,” Chief Nemauzhe said.
“Key points which were highlighted during the meeting are that we need to think outside the horizon and find solutions to challenges at local level and also work towards utilising local resources for the benefit of the community,” Chivi District Development Coordinator, Mr Innocent Matingwina added.
Similar stakeholder meetings were held in other districts across Masvingo Province as part of ongoing efforts to promote collaboration between government structures, traditional leadership and communities in driving sustainable development.
