AGRICULTURE, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development minister Joseph Made last week told Senate that two ambitious Binga district irrigation schemes the government promised a few years ago cannot be completed because of sanctions.
Staff Reporter
Made was responding to a question by Binga senator Herbert Madolo Sinampande who asked him to explain why only two hectares of Bulawayo Kraal Irrigation scheme were being utilised against a hectarage of 5 000.
At Mlibizi Irrigation scheme only four hectares out of 16 000 hectares of land were being utilised.
Made said the ministry “is financially constrained and as soon as sanctions are removed, these schemes are going to be developed to their full potential”.
Zanu PF, which often claims credit for initiating the projects, says it will change the livelihoods of the people in the remote district.
The Bulawayo Kraal Irrigation scheme that was started in 2002 meant to benefit at least 2 500 livelihoods.
