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Midlands Bureau
THE government initiated Community Share Ownership Trust/Scheme, continues to change the face of rural communities for the better.
In Shurugwi district the scheme has funded a number of development projects and the latest is the establishment of drip irrigation schemes at chiefs’ homesteads.
The Tongogara Community Share Ownership Scheme has so far installed two drip irrigation schemes at chiefs Banga and Ndanga’s homesteads at a combined cost of $40,000.

The CSOT/S is now establishing a similar irrigation scheme at Chief Nhema’s homestead.
Maxwell Dave, the trust’s administrator, said the drip irrigation schemes are meant to boost Zunde Ramambo/Isiphala  Senkosi food production thereby enhancing the district’s food security.

He said: “We installed drip irrigation systems at the homesteads of chiefs Banga and Ndanga last August. The projects which were undertaken by Torondo Irrigation (Pvt) Ltd, a Harare company, cost us $20,000 each. The two chiefs’ communities are now cultivating crops for the Zunde Ramambo/Isiphala Senkosi under irrigation.”

Dave said preparatory work for Chief Nhema’s drip irrigation scheme was almost complete and the trust was inviting tenders for the job.
“Chief Nhema’s project is likely to cost us more because it is bigger as it is about 0.7ha compared to the 0.5ha for the other tow chiefs. We are working on the bill of quantities and we will only be able to cost the project after we award a tender to the deserving contractor.

“The first contractor was meant for the two projects at chiefs Banga and Ndanga’s homesteads since they are of the same size,” said Dave.
The Tongogara CSOS/T came into being after Unki Platinum Mines in Shurugwi advanced $10 million to kick-start the scheme.

Under the same scheme, companies exploiting natural resources in a given area are each required to cede 10 percent shares to the local community.