The ManicaPost
Cletus Mushanawani
News Editor
Home-grown solutions which take everyone on board are the New Dispensation’s new trump card to ensure the attainment of an upper middle class by 2030, President Mnangagwa has said.
Speaking at the commissioning of the US$33 million Marovanyati Dam in Buhera on Wednesday, the President said all future projects should be locally designed.
He was charmed by the engineering ingenuity of Chief Makumbe, who did part of the dam engineering through his company — Ralton Electricals.
The dam was built by the Government in partnership with Chinese contractor, Jiangxi Corporation.
Besides being the custodian of the land where the dam was constructed, Chief Makumbe successfully tendered for the dam’s engineering work and came up with world class designs which saw President Mnangagwa showering praises on traditional leaders for embracing technology.
“This dam construction project was mooted by our predecessors, but we moved in to implement its construction in 2018. It took us just two years to complete this project and the dream is now a reality.
“The dam was constructed with the support of our Chinese friends, but the engineers were locals.
“From the discussions I have had with the engineers, they made it clear that all future projects should be locally designed and they will spearhead the execution of the work.
“I was part of the Government since 1980 and we used to believe that all major capital expenditure projects should be funded through loans which we would repay after 10 to 20 years.
“This was draining our fiscus, but we have opened our eyes. Home-grown solutions are the way to go in bursting economic sanctions. We are under economic embargoes, but today, we are celebrating a very important milestone in ensuring food security through the completion of Marovanyati Dam, which will turn Buhera into an agricultural giant.
“Imagine, 1 250 hectares will be under irrigation here, something many people never dreamt of. We should leverage on the education of our young Zimbabweans to take this country forward,” said the President.
On Chief Makumbe’s exploits, President Mnangagwa said it is pleasing to note that the local chief led from the front.
“Old school chiefs were known for possessing charms, but we now have chiefs who want to see the country moving forward technologically. The engineering work that was done by Chief Makumbe is world-class,” he said.
In an interview with The Manica Post after the commissioning ceremony, Chief Makumbe called for a paradigm shift in chiefs’ administration roles and urged his compatriots to also chip in with their expertise in coming up with projects that will benefit their communities.
“Besides being traditional leaders, we also have other qualifications which we should use to develop our own communities. If we lead from the front, there will be buy-in from everyone and this will also ensure ownership of these projects.
“I hope my services will also act as an inspiration to other traditional leaders and our subjects to leverage on available resources to develop this country.
“We should also take advantage of the industrial hubs being created by Government in our tertiary institutions to acquire knowledge for use in our communities. If our country advances technologically, it will be an economic giant in the near future,” he said.
Besides Marovanyati Dam, Chief Makumbe has been involved in water reticulation and sanitation projects in Beitbridge and Lupane; at Causeway Dam and at Chirundu Border Post.
President Mnangagwa said the various infrastructure projects that have been completed and those that are underway are a testimony of the New Dispensation’s resolve to leapfrog the country’s economic development.
“The commissioning of this project is a reflection of our commitment to facilitate the provision of sound enablers which will ensure that our people are active participants in the economic development and prosperity of our country, no matter where they live. “The development path we are taking will leave no one behind and is set to lift millions out of poverty,” said President Mnangagwa.
He added: “The record and rate of construction and completion of projects under my Government speaks volumes of our determination, focus, zeal and sense of urgency to change the plight of our people. “This has been made possible through the successful implementation of the Transitional Stabilisation Programme, fiscal discipline and multi-pronged reforms resulting in our increased ability to inject more resources towards capital projects,” said the President.
Marovanyati Dam was built on Mwerahari River and is expected to irrigate 1 250ha of fertile lands in Buhera.
The dam’s completion is expected to usher in serious socio-economic transformation in Buhera through the provision of irrigation water.
The dam will also be a more reliable source of water for Murambinda Growth Point, Dorowa Minerals and other mines in the district.
Marovanyati Dam will also spur economic activities in one of the poorest districts in the country through recreation and fisheries.
