BY JAIROS SAUNYAMA
PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa is today expected to commission Causeway Dam outside Marondera that is set to benefit close to 200 farmers.
The dam, which forced the relocation of 146 families, was constructed on Mucheke River and is set to benefit the Marondera University of Agricultural Science and Technology (MUAST) which is situated at Dosmerry Farm in the Masomera area.
The project was fast-tracked by former Agriculture minister Joseph Made and then Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa whose farms are close to the giant water source.
According to an invitation to stakeholders dated May 7 and signed by Mashonaland East Provincial Affairs minister Aplonia Munzverengwi, Mnangagwa is expected in Marondera East constituency today for the event.
“The Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Mashonaland East province, Honourable Aplonia Munzverengwi invites you to join her in witnessing the commissioning of Muchekeranwa Dam by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Cde ED Mnangagwa on 13 May 2021, in Mashonaland East Province,” the invite read.
Families whose homesteads were close to the dam were relocated into open spaces in the same area.
The relocated farmers are now part of the Machiki Irrigation Scheme. Government availed $2,7 millian as compensation to be shared among displaced farmers.
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The dam project was funded by government to the tune of US$5 million. It has a storage capacity of 75 000m3.
Causeway Dam is at the boundary of Mashonaland East’s Marondera district and Manicaland’s Makoni district.
The areas that will benefit from the dam are Svosve in Mashonaland East province and Chiduku in Manicaland province.
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