Tugwi-Mukosi feasibility studies complete

A FEASIBILITY study on the irrigation land-use pattern for Tugwi-Mukosi Dam has been completed and now awaits Cabinet approval.

If approved, it will pave way for the development of over 25 000 hectares in southern parts of Masvingo using water from the reservoir.

Tugwi-Mukosi, the country’s largest inland dam, with a capacity of 1,8 billion cubic metres, but it has remained underutilised after its commissioning in May last year.

The dam is supplying irrigation water to Lowveld cane plantations at Triangle.

This has sparked murmurs of disapproval from the people of Masvingo who want the dam to benefit villagers through irrigation facilities.

Agriculture, Lands and Rural Resettlement Deputy Minister Cde Davis Marapira confirmed the feasibility study had been completed.

Cde Marapira said once results of the study had been endorsed by Cabinet, then work on the dam’s master plan would start.

“Feasibility studies among other things identify areas that will be irrigated using the dam’s water have been completed and the studies were conducted by officials from the Ministry of Agriculture,” he said. “Now the only remaining thing is for Cabinet to approve the findings of the studies to pave way for crafting of the master plan.

“Progress on the project was delayed by the just-ended polls, but now the Ministry of Agriculture and its Environment, Water and Climate counterparts will soon come up with a master plan if Cabinet is happy with results of the feasibility studies.’’

Cde Marapira said Government was committed to making sure Tugwi-Mukosi Dam benefited communities in the reservoir’s immediate environment.

He said Tugwi-Mukosi flood victims at Chingwizi will not lose out.

“The feasibility studies also took into account the plight of Tugwi-Mukosi flood victims and identified areas where irrigation could be developed for them to benefit from the dam’s water and all that will be reflected in the master plan once Cabinet okays the whole process,’’ Cde Marapira.

Cde Marapira said Tugwi-Mukosi Dam could irrigate more than 25 000ha if modern technology was used.

He said Government wanted Zimbabwe’s largest inland dam to be the key catalyst for socio-economic development mainly in Masvingo Province.

The dam was built by Government over a 17-year period at a cost of $300 million.

Besides transforming southern parts of Masvingo into a greenbelt, Tugwi-Mukosi is also a potential major tourist attraction with its scenic topography ideal for building of hotels and casinos.