The Sunday News
Robin Muchetu in Binga, Senior Reporter
THE ruling Zanu-PF Women’s League is pleased with progress made so far at the Bulawayo Kraal Irrigation Scheme in Binga and has commended its Secretary, First Lady Dr Grace Mugabe, for spearheading production at the scheme.
Speaking during a tour of the irrigation scheme yesterday, Matabeleland North Zanu-PF Women’s League provincial chairperson Cde Medeline Bhebhe said First Lady Dr Grace Mugabe has done a commendable job at the irrigation scheme and women were benefitting from her visionary work.
The irrigation scheme planted its first crop in May, for the first time since its inception in 2004, after Dr Mugabe sourced farming equipment comprising tractors, knapsack spray, water pumping units and disc ploughs among others. It had failed to take off since its inception in 2004 due to funding problems.
“We have come here to physically see the fields and to also meet the beneficiaries of the project. We came to see if they are there and to see work being done. We are pleased with what is being done and we want to thank Dr Mugabe for her efforts in seeing this scheme coming to life,” she said.
Cde Bhebhe said they will report the progress to Dr Mugabe. A total of 120 women from the wing are members of the irrigation scheme. Cde Bhebhe also said they will conduct a physical audit of women who are beneficiaries at the scheme to see if they are productive.
“The First Lady does not want incomplete and incorrect projects. She teaches us to be transparent and honest in our dealings that is why we will physically check the women who should be benefiting and their identity particulars,” she added.
Cde Bhebhe said the province was eagerly waiting for the First Lady to visit and and officially open the scheme.
However, she said they have observed that there were still some challenges of water for irrigation and there was a need for more water to be pumped to the fields to allow farmers to increase production. Bulawayo Kraal Irrigation Scheme chairperson Mrs Veronica Munkuli said the crop was nearing maturity.
“We could have harvested already save for the fact that our water supply is limited. But we are grateful that we will soon have another pipeline that will supply more water to the fields,” she said.
Mrs Munkuli said members have received support from youths and women in the province. Zanu-PF Matabeleland North Youth League secretary for transport and welfare Cde Daniel Sithole said youths have also benefitted from the scheme.
“We are impressed that 96 youths have benefited from the project since its inception. They are working hard producing food from the piece of land that they were allocated. This is a very dry area but we have managed to produce good yields. The irrigation scheme has become a source of employment for us. We are grateful to the First Lady,” he said.
The irrigation scheme is part of the Zambezi Green Valley (Zagreva) project, aimed at ensuring a green belt in areas along the Zambezi River stretching from Kazungula to Kariba. It is one of the key projects meant to complement Zim-Asset by addressing the country’s food needs. Binga is one of the country’s driest areas with relatively very low annual rainfall and infertile soils, a situation which makes rain-fed cropping unreliable with optimum yields only expected to be realised through irrigation.
