Plans to develop the Zhovhe Irrigation Scheme in Beitbridge are gathering momentum, with the government inviting contractors to construct infrastructure that could bring 4 500 hectares under reliable irrigation, boosting food production and creating employment.
The Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development ministry invited contractors to express interest in constructing the irrigation infrastructure, which is being financed by the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED).
“The ministry invites contractors to express interest in constructing the irrigation infrastructure, which will provide water to 2 500 hectares of existing fields while opening up an additional 2 000 hectares for irrigation, creating capacity for year-round agricultural production in the district,” the ministry said.
The scheme is expected to reduce the district’s vulnerability to erratic rainfall while creating opportunities for both commercial and communal farmers to expand production.
The project will also supply water to Beitbridge town, strengthening water security and supporting economic activity in the district.
According to the ministry, major works will include construction of a 47-kilometre water conveyance canal, ancillary structures and a four-kilometre, two-metre-diameter concrete siphon across the Mzingwane River.
Electro-mechanical services infrastructure will also form part of the project.
The Zhovhe dam irrigation project was commissioned in 1996 to support economic and social development in Beitbridge, covering Ferguson, Bishopstone and Cowood ranches, as well as Mtetengwe, Malindi and Malala communal lands.
- Veld fires ravage Beitbridge
- Harare suspends Pomona deal
- 340km of Harare-B/bridge highway revamp complete
- Arms of war
Keep Reading
The latest development is expected to unlock the productive potential of the scheme by providing reliable water to agricultural land, allowing farmers to reduce their dependence on seasonal rainfall.
The government has secured KFAED financing for the water conveyance canal and related works and is now pre-selecting contractors for the project.
“Prospective firms must be registered with either the Construction Industry Federation of Zimbabwe (Cifoz) or the Zimbabwe Building Contractors Association (ZBCA) and be locally registered Zimbabwean companies or joint ventures involving a local firm,” said the ministry.
Once implemented, the Zhowe project could reposition Beitbridge as a major agricultural production hub, strengthening local food security while creating jobs and opening opportunities for agro-processing and other downstream industries.
