Help market Zim water projects, envoys urged
GOVERNMENT has called on diplomats to assist the country in marketing its water management projects in their countries.
Speaking during a breakfast meeting yesterday - ahead of a water infrastructure investment conference to be held in Harare next month - Environment, Water and Climate Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri said there was need for more investment in water resource infrastructure.
The meeting was attended by several diplomats.
“Government is on a drive to ensure that every dam in the country contributes towards irrigation of an average of 200 hectares,” she said.
“This calls for us to develop new projects that will be showcased during the International Water Conference for Muda-Nyatsime, Chivhu, Shavi, Glassblock, Dande, Tunnel, Kudu and Mkwasine dams, among others.
“The Government cannot go it alone, hence our meeting today Your Excellencies.”
Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri said Government’s initiative of reviving the agricultural sector through the Command Agriculture programme was heavily dependent on adequate water supply for its success, hence the need for further investment in water resource infrastructure.
She said Government had given assurances to investors that Zimbabwe was ready to move forward, respect property rights and the rights of investors to repatriate their profits back home.
“It is in this spirit that my ministry wishes to assure Your Excellencies that investment made by companies from your respective countries will be duly protected,” said Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri.
“We are looking at various investment partnership options, which include the Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) model, the Build Own Operate Transfer (BOOT) model, joint ventures and public private partnerships (PPPs),” she said.
Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri implored everyone to work together to improve water resource management.
“I call upon all of us to work together as a team in improving water resource management, water security for all and embarking on sustainable infrastructural development,” she said.
Speaking during the same event, the Acting Secretary for Environment, Water and Climate Mr Tinayeshe Mutazu said the objective of the conference was to enlist support through marketing the projects to potential investors.
“As a ministry, we strongly believe in the critical role that diplomats play in providing economic intelligence to business people in their respective countries,” he said.
The International Water Conference will be held on April 9 and 10 and will be running under the theme “Unlocking Zimbabwe’s water resources potential for economic growth”.