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By EMELLY MAGARAMOMBE
CHITUNGWIZA municipality management has approached the government to resuscitate two critical multi-million dollar projects expected to widen the cash-strapped council’s revenue base and provide a sustainable solution to water supplies, documents in possession of Dungwiza News reveal.
The two mega projects, that have been lying idle for years, are the construction of the Muda Dam and a cattle rearing project at Imbga farm in Seke district.
Acting mayor Kiven Mutimbanyoka confirmed to this publication that the municipality is seized with turning around the fortunes of Chitungwiza.
“I can’t say much but we a putting in place strategies and actions that will vastly improve service delivery in the town.”
The much-talked about Muda dam project was derailed by former Local Government minister Saviour Kasukuwere after council had entered into a BOT partnership with local construction and civil engineering company Sesani Pvt Ltd in 2016.
The Infrastructure Development Bank of Zimbabwe had agreed to mobilise US$300 million for the dam construction project.
The project if completed is expected to end the town’s perennial water woes as it relies on Harare for its supplies.
Council is aiming to produce more than 500 cattle for sale annually, in the medium term.
According to the documents, council seeks to rehabilitate the sewage ponds at the farm and use treated sewage water for the development of the project. The developed vibrant pasture will be the nutrition base for the project.
“The council will also re-establish the star grass pasture that used to be irrigated in the farm during the early 2000s before supply of water to the sewage ponds was stopped.
“The treated water is sufficient to irrigate the whole farm.”
Some of council’s objectives are to rehabilitate six treated sewage water ponds and the irrigation system, re-establish 500 hectares of star grass pasture.
Through the ambitious project council is aiming to stock the farm with 700 breeding heifers and 28 breeding bulls in three years.
If adopted, key benefits will result in improved waste water management, improved income through livestock and hay sales, improved environmental management.
The project is also expected to supply of beef for both the local and export markets and contribute towards food and nutrition security of the country.
Imbga farm is located in the Seke District of Mashonaland East province, Zimbabwe, south of the capital city Harare.
The farm has a total area of 1 440 hectares most of which is arable.
According to the document the existing infrastructure includes six water ponds for treated sewage, 12 fenced paddocks, handling facilities, two dip tanks, high and low voltage electrical power lines, irrigation canals, feeding and water points, two boreholes, road network and farm compounds or homesteads.
Most of the infrastructure requires either minor or major rehabilitation.
The existence of the sewage ponds will ensure adequate and reliable source of irrigation water being supplied from Chitungwiza town through a pipeline.
The whole irrigation rehabilitation cost is estimated at USD500 000 and the installation and rehabilitation of the irrigation system will be done through the tender system.
Irrigation water will be supplied from Chitungwiza sewage treatment plant and a pipeline to supply treated water to the farm is in place.
The pipeline needs minor refurbishments and installation of a water pump to pump the water to Imbgwa farm.
