Field day for new Chivi dam

Kennedy Murwira

CHIVI – A field day which is expected to be attended by senior government and Arex officials is set to be held on the 28th of next month at the recently completed Musvinini Dam and Irrigation Project in Ward 15 of Chivi District.

Construction of the dam, which was funded by Care International and its funding partners, started in 2014 with villagers providing their labour on a food for work basis. The non-governmental organisations involved in the project also provided building materials and the technical expertise.

Dam Committee member, Tanatsiwa Bvuchete, told TellZim News last week that the dam was built to counter the effects of drought and to supply a constant source of water for livestock.

“Chivi is prone to lengthy dry spells and the idea of the dam was to counter the effects of the hunger and starvation that accompany droughts. 

“Numerous villages from the Matsveru and Makonese areas were involved in the dam construction and will benefit from the irrigation project that is being implemented closeby,” said Bvuchete.

Bvuchete said the villagers who took part in the dam construction received food handouts from Care International and its funding partners every month for the duration of the construction period. 

He said after completion, irrigation plots were identified next to the dam and they are expected to be operating full scale soon.

“At least 120 families will benefit from the irrigation plots which have been pegged near the dam. The families will be expected to conform to the standards of the irrigation project which has been put in place to improve food security,” he said.

Bvuchete said the handover of the dam to the community is expected to take place on the same day that the field day is going to be held.