* By October this year some farmers will start receiving water for irrigation as temporary intake construction is at about 66% complete and is expected to be operational by April
* Substantial progress has been made on the main canal from intake with about 70% of construction works completed as permanent intake is expected to be completed in 2027
By Pempho Nkhoma, MANA
As part of the Shire Valley Transformation Programme (SVTP), about 46,000 people from the sorrounding communities are set to benefit from clean potable water, whose treatment facility is nearing its completion.
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The Manifesto Implementation Unit in the Office of the President & Cabinet toured the project in Chikwawa District on Saturday to assess progress of the SVTP irrigation canal from its intake at Kapichira Dam to Mwanza River, as well as a water treatment facility.
The Manifesto Implementation Unit’s service design engineering specialist, George Matipwiri, said at the site visit that the SVTP is one of the flagship programmes the President Arthur Peter Mutharika — who has clocked exactly 100 days in office today — is keen to see fully implemented as part of government’s manifesto commitments.
The STVP was launched by President Mutharika during his 2014-2019 administration and slowed down during the former President Lazarus Chakwera’s government mostly due to the destruction of intake construction following the devastation caused by Cyclone Ana in 2021.
Matipwiri observed that the pace of implementation was encouraging, expressing confidence that manifesto commitments were being realised on the ground.
“We have been assured that by October some farmers will start receiving water for irrigation, which is significant because this is the first year of implementing the manifesto.
“We will continue to track progress. The President made various promises, including increasing irrigated land. In this area alone, about 43,000 hectares will be opened for irrigation.”
On the initiative to improve access to clean water, Matipwiri was impressed with the “massive structure that will be tapping water, treating it and supplying it to communities in the Shire Valley”.
SVTP irrigation consultant, Dr. John Njalam’mano appraised the delegation that substantial progress has been made on the main canal, with about 70% of construction works completed.
“The temporary intake is currently under construction and while the permanent intake is expected to be completed later in 2027, works on the temporary intake are about 66% complete, and it is expected to be operational by April this year,” Njalam’mano said.
The Shire Valley Transformation Programme is being implemented in Chikwawa and Nsanje districts and aims to increase agricultural productivity and commercialisation among targeted households — while promoting sustainable management and utilisation of natural resources in the Shire Valley.—Edited by Maravi Express
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