Kraal irrigation scheme hit by financial problems

20 Apr, 2014 - 00:04 0 Views
Kraal irrigation scheme  hit by financial problems

The Sunday News

Cattle being dipped at a diptank

Cattle being dipped at a diptank

Roberta Katunga in Binga
THE workforce at Bulawayo Kraal Irrigation Scheme in Binga has been reduced drastically from about 60 employees to 15 due to financial constraints despite construction being at about 73 percent for the first phase of irrigation to begin, officials said.
District irrigation technician, Mr Pride Mahombera said they reduced the number of employees because of lack of funds and inactivity at the scheme.

“We have made progress at the irrigation scheme but progress has been stalled as we are waiting for funds to be released. There has not been any need for us to retain all the workers because nothing much is happening now until we get funding,” said Mr Mahombera.

Bulawayo Kraal Irrigation Scheme is set to be the biggest scheme in Matabeleland region with 16 000 hectares of land to be irrigated and with the potential of benefiting 10 000 people directly and indirectly.

A tour of the scheme showed that two reservoirs have been constructed with a 10-kilometre long pipeline from the scheme to the Zambezi river.

“There are certain points along the pipeline that still need to get fixed and we also expect delays in installing pumps in the river as one out of six pumps has been placed,” said Mr Mahombera.

According to the technicians at the scheme the two dams with a holding capacity of 3 700 and 7 500 cubic litres respectively would provide the water needed for irrigation purposes with an input point from the Zambezi river and an output to the scheme.

Work at the scheme has been split into three phases and Mr Mahombera said with each visit by Vice President Joice Mujuru, certain changes had been effected.

“From the first time Mai Mujuru visited, it was all jungle but in 2012 when she returned there was a power line that reaches the river from Manjolo and three access points to the river. We had also finished constructing one dam, cleared 180 ha of land and built a F14 house for our staff,” he said.

From the last time the Vice-President visited, Mr Mahombera said they had managed to complete the second reservoir, surveyed the 16 000 ha and started the demonstration project which will show which crops would thrive.

Chief Binga of Manjolo Ward said when complete the scheme would benefit the villagers and said the land was  fertile.

“This scheme will be very big and we are expecting so much to come out of it. I don’t know why there is a hold up but I heard something about financial constraints,” said Chief Binga.

He said the people of Manjolo and Binga had not lost hope on the scheme as they knew that one day it would all be complete as engineers visit from time to time to inspect the place.

One of the workers at the scheme said whenever there is work to be done they were called to work and they had been promised that as soon as the money was released there would be more to do.

Crops to be irrigated at Bulawayo kraal include horticultural crops such as tomatoes, cabbages, onions, garlic and some other crops like wheat, sugar beans, potatoes and soya beans.

“Our demonstration project has proved that these crops can thrive in Binga,” said Mr Mahombera.

Bulawayo kraal will be the sixth major irrigation scheme in Binga.
Other schemes include Siabuwa which covers 21ha, Kariyangwe 110ha, Mlibizi 16ha, Tyuunga 12 ha as well as Lubimbi which after completion will draw water from the hot springs.

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