The Sunday Mail
Fatima Bulla-Musakwa
Headman Aegius Juru Dzvanga (87) was still relatively young and agile when the Government announced plans to construct Kunzvi Dam in Mashonaland East.
In fact, the major project was first mulled before Independence.
His three children were young and yet to bless him with grandchildren.
He now has four grandchildren.
During that time, his children were also yet to build their own houses inside the family compound.
However, for Headman Dzvanga, the prospect of witnessing the dam project take off during his lifetime appeared to be disappearing by the day as months turned into years before any work commenced.
When the Second Republic administration resuscitated the project last year, Headman Dzvanga’s hope was rekindled.
His community was bursting with joy and pride in hosting a historic developmental project that will change the face of the capital, Harare.
But that joy soon turned into disillusionment.
Kunzvi Dam will be situated at the confluence of Nora and Nyagui River in Goromonzi, and the headman’s family compound lies directly opposite the dam site in Dzvanga Juru Village under Chief Rusike.
As a result, his family is among dozens that are set to be relocated to make way for the huge water body.
According to Government, 258 households are going to be affected, with 32 having to relocate immediately to allow for onsite works.
Each of the 32 households will be resettled on 1,8-hectare plots.
But Headman Dzvanga dreads leaving a homestead he has spent decades developing.
“We are expecting to move, but we have not been told where we will be going,” he said.
“I am 87-years-old and don’t have the strength to move somewhere else and to start building a new home.”
Authorities last week met the affected communities, who are mainly from Murehwa wards 28 and 15, for a consultative meeting to discuss relocation plans.
Government representatives emphasised that families will be relocated to an area that is ideal for agriculture, development of schools and clinics, among other amenities.
Headman Dzvanga’s son Charles (63) said many villagers shared the same concerns.
“As you have seen, there is no thatched house in this compound,” he said.
“Even the standard of our toilets shows you the type of people we are.
“We have made this place comfortable for the family.
“We do not want money as compensation from Government.
“All we want is for authorities to replicate our current structures so that when we are relocated, we will just walk in and settle.
“Our fields used to stretch to as far as Nyaguwe River and the homesteads’ yards are very spacious.
“Since 2004, when our fields were appropriated to pave way for the dam construction, we have not had sound sleep due to uncertainty.”
Constant engagements between the district administrator and the community, he added, was necessary to ensure buy-in from all stakeholders.
“We are asking for constant engagement with the district administrator’s office, Zinwa (Zimbabwe National Water Authority) and all relevant officials …
“Further, building of the dam is good but we also want to benefit from it, whether it’s through businesses in fishing, canoeing, lodges or gardening, because this is the land of our ancestors.”
According to the Harare City Masterplan, development of the US$109 million project, which is expected to solve the capital’s water woes, was supposed to begin in 1996.
Water from the dam will directly feed Harare’s northern and eastern suburbs.
The contractor, China Nanchang Engineering, moved on site last year.
According to Zinwa, around 8 percent of construction work has been completed so far.
Work currently underway includes construction of site roads, site establishment, excavation of the main dam and placement of the main dam embankment.
The Sunday Mail has established that families in neighbouring villages including Mapuranga, Magadzo, Sabhasi and Chikazhe will also be similarly affected by relocations.
Mabel Chikondo, who is also known as Headman Magadzo, has lived in Magadzo Village since 1980.
She said while communities cannot resist relocation, they are pleading with authorities to be relocated on good and fertile land.
“We want compensation for our buildings,” said Headman Magadzo.
“My house has six rooms, I have cows, goats, chickens, a well for water supply, kraals and a fenced yard.
“All this should be there when we move to the new place.
“I am old; I cannot rebuild like I did when I was young … I cannot start again.”
A traditional ceremony to mark the beginning of the project was held in December last year.
It was presided over by Chiefs Chikwaka, Rusike and Mangwende, signalling buy-in by the local traditional leadership.
Procedure
Chief director for water resources, irrigation development and national WASH coordination in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Engineer Tinayeshe Mutazu, said: “Obviously, the levels of compensation will vary according to the structures to be affected.
“Government will then provide monetary compensation to the affected.
“Relocation and reorganisation are done in a manner that will disturb lifestyles minimally.
“By and large, the effort is to make sure that suitable land around the dam is identified and developed for the reorganised farmers to settle around and benefit from the dam through the following: irrigation, clean water supply and, if possible, power from hydro developed.”
