Story by Josephine Mugiyo
CABINET has approved the Tugwi Mukosi Master Plan, paving way for massive developments around the huge water body which has the potential to irrigate 40 000 hectares of land.
The development fits very well into the Second Republic’s agenda of ensuring that food security for the country remains one of its top priorities.
The Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Senator Monica Mutsvangwa announced in Tuesday’s post-cabinet media briefing, “Cabinet considered and approved the Tugwi Mukosi master plan as presented by the minister of local government and public works, Honorable July Moyo. The nation is being informed that the ministry of local government and public works commissioned a consortium of universities to prepare the Tugwi Mukosi combination master plan authority.”
The dam which was officially commissioned in 2017, has the potential to irrigate 40 000 hectares and the cabinet has agreed to the setting up of three irrigation schemes around the water body.
“Noting that the Tugwi Mukosi Dam and its environs present excellent opportunities for accelerated agricultural and irrigation development, the cabinet agreed that three new irrigation schemes measuring 3 852 hectares will be established, with bangs irrigation scheme being expanded from 64 hectares to 195 hectares. Tugwi Mukosi Dam alone has the potential to irrigate about 40 000 hectares of land in the country’s Lowveld.”
The development of the Kanyemba Border Post was also tabled in the cabinet.
“The nation is being informed that Kanyemba Border Post in Mbire district of Mashonaland Central has been identified as one of the potential drives of Vision 2030 in the province. A total of 1 600 hectares has been set aside for urban development, while some land has been set aside for communal and commercial irrigation schemes. The development of Kanyemba will be anchored on four pillars, namely agriculture, tourism, international trade and service industry.”
Cabinet also considered and approved the Forbes Border Post Modernisation Project.
