Mahofa hails President forTokwe-Mukosi Dam

THE Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs, Cde Shuvai Mahofa, has praised President Mugabe for ushering in a new economic trajectory through the official commissioning of Tokwe-Mukosi Dam which will see thousands of people in an around the province benefiting.

Addressing thousands of people and other stakeholders during the official commissioning of the multi-million dam in Chivi on Thursday, Cde Mahofa said the completion of the much awaited multi-million project will help people in Masvingo engage in a number of economic activities related to the dam. President Mugabe commissioned the 1,8 billion cubic metres capacity dam, which was built at a cost $300 million. At full capacity the dam can irrigate more than 26 000 hectares of land. The dam is at the moment 72 percent full. Cde Mahofa thanked President Mugabe for leading, on behalf of Government, in the construction of the dam despite the financial challenges that the country was going through.

“President Mugabe, as Masvingo, we are happy that you are witnessing what you fought for during the liberation war. The completion and commissioning of Tokwe– Mukosi will leave people of Masvingo not the same. We are happy with this development,” said Cde Mahofa.

She said the completion of the dam has brought relief to the victims of 2014 floods who were moved from the area around the dam after their homes and property was destroyed by floods. The families that were evacuated were resettled at Chingwizi area in Mwenezi.

“The completion of Tokwe-Mukosi has brought relief to victims of 2014 floods which saw the destruction of homes, property and livestock. The families are settled at Chingwizi and it is our hope they should be the first to benefit from this massive water body through irrigation. We are happy that Minister of Environment, Water and Climate Cde Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri has also introduced a fishery project which will help thousands of our people to get employment. Masvingo will not be the same again, President, we thank you Gushungo,” she said.

Present at the commissioning were Vice-Presidents Emmerson Mnangagwa and Phelekezela Mphoko, Ministers: Muchinguri-Kashiri, Dr Samuel Undenge (Energy and Power Development), Dr Joseph Made (Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development), Dr Walter Mzembi (Tourism and Hospitality Industry) and Cde Josiah Hungwe (State for Liaising on Psychomotor Activities in Education) among others.