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Patient Sibanda, Chronicle Reporter
FIVE Hwange irrigation schemes are set to be rehabilitated under an integrated food income and nutrition security project being funded by the European Commission.

A local Non-Government Organisation, Environment Africa, has invited tenders for the rehabilitation of the five irrigation schemes Chentali, Makwa, Chezya, Lukosi and Lambo in Hwange.

“Bidders are compulsorily required to visit all the sites where the irrigation schemes are located.

“Site visits will be conducted from October 12 to October 16. Schedule of visits will be provided to prospective bidders. Tenders will be awarded per irrigation scheme, therefore bidders are encouraged to visit each irrigation scheme,” reads the statement.

The deadline for tenders is October 23.

“Contractors are encouraged to use local labour for casual work to ensure participation by the local communities,” it added.

The rehabilitation of the irrigation schemes augurs well for the country’s economic blueprint Zim-Asset that has four clusters; Food security and nutrition; Social services and poverty reduction; Infrastructure and utilities; and Value addition and beneficiation.

Under food security and nutrition, the ultimate goal is to restore Zimbabwe’s bread basket status, producing enough food to sustain not only the country but the whole region of Southern Africa.

Under Zim-Asset, there is emphasis on the importance of expanding the country’s agriculture sector and value addition of agricultural products.