Mahusekwa Dam is set to be turned into a community-driven, income generating water body after the intervention of a non-governmental organisation.
“We will work together with Hope Orphans Support Services to develop this dam with Chinese assistance,” said Elfas Shangwa, Director of New Hope Zimbabwe Trust, in a recent interview at the dam. “The farmers in the community are relatively poor and are unable to develop strategies to adapt to climate change. The development of this dam will boost their livelihoods.”
HOSS is a community-based organisation working to uplift local livelihoods. Headman Onias Sekete of Chiwanzamarara village welcomed the move by New Hope and said the dam was not being fully utilised. Mahusekwa communal area, about 55 kilometres south of Harare, is a relatively arid area that lies in Natural Region V.
“Local people could go far by venturing into fish farming, agro-forestry and food processing through public-private and community partnerships,” said Shangwa.
Meanwhile, according to Oxfam GB, in recent years Mahusekwa has experienced worsening droughts, which has negatively impacted on rain-fed agricultural production as well as accelerating deforestation and dam and river siltation. In partnership with relevant authorities, Oxfam has developed interventions to address issues of food security and income generation through the sustainable management of natural resources.