The Sunday Mail
Conrad Mupesa
Mashonaland West Bureau
AS construction of the US$1 billion Dinson Iron and Steel Company (Disco)’s steel plant in Manhize continues to take shape, exciting prospects beckon for thousands of people living in areas surrounding the project.
Earmarked to straddle the three provinces of Mashonaland East, Mashonaland West and Midlands, the project will transform the lives of many communities.
One community that is in line to get massive benefits from the project are the Gavunga people in Mhondoro-Ngezi, Mashonaland West.
A community garden project aimed at securing the longevity of a 132-hectare wetland and transforming the lives of close to 100 families has given the people an opportunity to supply the Manhize Steel Plant with fresh farm produce.
The Gavunga area is located about eight kilometres west of the Manhize-Chikapakapa River, just adjacent to where the steel plant’s construction is gathering pace.
Under its auspices of protecting the environment, Government has dedicated resources towards protection of the wetland through a project dubbed the Manhize-Gavunga Integrated Wetland Protection, supported by the Environmental Management Agency (EMA).
The overall goal is to fence part of the wetland source and establish horticultural gardens.
Speaking on the sidelines of a provincial clean-up campaign and belated World Wetlands Day commemorations recently, Gavunga villagers applauded Government for championing the unique project.
The project dovetails with Government’s agenda of economically empowering every citizen regardless of tribe, political affiliation, race or location under the “leaving no one and no place behind” mantra.
For Mrs Senzeni Gaure from Gaure village, the wetland protection and garden project will be a game changer.
“This is going to uplift our lives in a big way. Many people in our community were failing to make ends meet. This project is a blessing as it allows us to farm and take our produce to the Manhize Steel Plant, where there is a readily available market for fresh farm produce, while, at the same time, ensuring that the wetland is protected,” she said.
She is part of 92 families that have over the years been unsustainably using the wetland to produce crops.
Their activities had, of late, seen the wetland source drying up because the area was not being used in an environmentally sustainable manner. As a result, EMA suspended all agricultural activities before unveiling the new plan for horticultural gardens, in line with Government’s rural development drive.
Another villager, Ms Mavis Muputisi, who is eagerly awaiting successful completion of the project, requested Government or other stakeholders to assist the community with seed for various crops.
She targets to concentrate on ginger, garlic and turmeric as they are sought after by Chinese construction workers who are among the thousands of people working at the site.
Zirere village head Mr Willard Zirere, under Chief Mushava, said fencing of the water source and establishment of the gardens will protect the entire wetland from activities that threaten its existence.
“We have 92 families that are expected to benefit from the garden project. This is going to be beneficial to us as a community,” he said.
The gardens are going to be used by people from 10 villages.
The Mhondoro-Ngezi Rural District Council chairman, Alderman Ephraim Chengeta, said the local authority will also lend its support to the project.
In his remarks during belated provincial Wetlands Day commemorations held at Gavunga Primary School, Chief Mushava, born Vimbai Machokoto narrated the origins of the sacred wetland that has also been used as a place for rain-making ceremonies.
Gavunga, he said, was a local word that means plenty of water.
“The source of Gavunga is the famous and sacred Manhize-Chikapakapa River, which is to the east,” said the chief.
EMA provincial head for Mashonaland West Mr Rambwayi Mapako said the Government had dedicated funds for the wetland’s protection.
In her remarks, Mashonaland West Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Mary Mliswa-Chikoka, who was represented by Mr Douglas Chiwiro, a director in her office, challenged the community to jealously safeguard the infrastructure being installed by Government.
She lauded the Gavunga community for committing to work with the authorities in safeguarding the wetland amid indications that many marshlands across the province were disappearing, with urban councils blamed for settling residents on such land.
Wetlands are vital ecosystems, as they are home to dozens of different species. They also help to control flooding and play a key role in combating climate change. However, many wetlands are at risk in Zimbabwe, and the Gavunga community project can be used as an example to be emulated by other communities to protect wetlands and promote rural development.
The community is headed for significant development, after emerging from a situation where the people thought their fortunes would never change.
All this is in line with President Mnangagwa’s well-defined rural development thrust that seeks to leave no one and no place behind.
