Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu in Gwanda
VICE President Dr Constantino Chiwenga has pledged the Government’s commitment to prioritising the improvement of water supplies in Matabeleland South Province as part of efforts to support development, anchored in the agriculture and mining sectors.
Addressing a gathering at the Garanyemba Drought Mitigation Centre in Gwanda South district yesterday, to mark the end of his three-day tour of high-impact projects in the province, VP Chiwenga expressed his satisfaction with the province’s progress in implementing the rural industrialisation drive.
Since Wednesday, the Vice President has toured projects in Mangwe, Beitbridge, and Gwanda to assess the implementation of high-impact projects aimed at driving infrastructure development, rural industrialisation, and agricultural reform.
Yesterday, he visited the Gwanda Lithium Mine in the Mandihongola area, the Tuli Manyange Dam project, which has stalled for decades, and the Garanyemba Drought Mitigation Centre, where he engaged with the community and other stakeholders. The visit is expected to inform the Government’s interventions in expediting project implementation.
“I started with Matabeleland South because that’s where we piloted the nutritional garden, now known as a Village Business Unit in the Makorokoro area in Mangwe. I also visited agricultural and mining projects in Beitbridge and Gwanda. What I have appreciated is that in Matabeleland South, there is good soil and weather, but what is lacking is water,” said VP Chiwenga.
“That’s why we are here to see how best to address this challenge. We will prioritise making water available in this part of the country so that we can develop our agricultural potential to the fullest.”
VP Chiwenga stated that the Government will prioritise the construction of the Tuli Manyange Dam, which will provide water for irrigating 1,600 hectares of land and supply water to Gwanda Town and the Gwanda Lithium Mine. He noted that if provided with the necessary water, the province could become one of the major contributors to the nation’s agricultural sector.
Since Wednesday, the Vice President has toured projects in Mangwe, Beitbridge, and Gwanda to assess the implementation of high-impact projects aimed at driving infrastructure development, rural industrialisation, and agricultural reform.
“I’m pleased with what I have seen in Matabeleland South, and I understand what needs to be done in these Village Business Units, in the commercial and agricultural companies, as well as the mining companies, to develop our nation,” VP Chiwenga said.
“We now know what we must do as a Government to enhance Matabeleland South’s economy for the betterment of not only the province but the entire nation.”
VP Chiwenga remarked that the projects he toured demonstrate Matabeleland South’s unwavering support for the Government’s development and rural industrialisation agenda, noting that land that was once lying idle has been transformed into vibrant mining and farming activities, with projects that started small having grown significantly.
He commended farmers at the Garanyemba Drought Mitigation Centre for embracing the project and working hard to ensure maximum productivity, stating that the Government’s vision is for the centre to serve as the heart of food security, nutrition, and value addition, becoming a flagship not only in Matabeleland South but an example nationwide.
VP Chiwenga indicated that such projects aim to navigate development from grassroots to national levels, linking this to the growth of the country’s economy at large, starting with empowering people at the household level through improved income and livelihoods.
He mentioned that the Garanyemba project will be equipped with cattle fattening equipment to ensure full operational capacity.
Minister of State for Matabeleland South Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Albert Nguluvhe, stated that VP Chiwenga’s visit to the province is a clear manifestation of the Government’s mantra of leaving no one and no place behind.
Deputy Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services and Gwanda legislator, Dr Omphile Marupi, noted that having Garanyemba pilot the drought mitigation centre programme is a significant developmental boost for the community, urging residents to embrace the opportunity and move forward in unity.
The US$54 million Gwanda Lithium mining venture is a subsidiary of the Chinese global investor Tsingshan Holdings Limited Group. Since its inception in January 2024, Gwanda has been producing about 2,000 tonnes per day of lithium concentrate and employs over 400 people. Production is expected to reach one million tonnes of ore and 200,000 tonnes of lithium concentrate annually once the plant reaches full production capacity.
Once complete, the Tuli Manyange Dam, which has a holding capacity of 35 million cubic metres, is expected to provide raw water for irrigation purposes, boosting food security in Matabeleland South. The dam is set to provide relief to Matabeleland South, a province typically characterised by low annual rainfall patterns that have eroded the sustenance capabilities of most households.
About 1,600 hectares of land will be put under irrigation once the project is complete, and the dam will service Vela, Guyu Business Centre, Ntalale Business Centre, Chelesa Business Centre, Sizhubane Barracks, Manama Mission and Business Centre, Sebasa, and Mankonkoni irrigation schemes.
The Garanyemba Village Business Unit (VBU) project is designed to boost the rural economy through sustainable agriculture and business development. It focuses on transitioning the community from subsistence farming to thriving rural enterprises by providing infrastructure such as solar-powered boreholes for irrigation, drip irrigation systems, and training in business management and animal husbandry.
In Beitbridge, VP Chiwenga visited the new multi-million-dollar Orange Ville citrus production project, some 40 km west of the border town. The project includes a citrus plantation and juice processing plant. At Nottingham Estate, he toured the ongoing dam construction, solar plant, and expansion of a citrus project. He also visited the Palm River Special Economic Zone project, which includes a thermal power station, a chrome smelting plant, and a coal coking plant, among other developments.
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