Three years after its inauguration, the K4 million Mthandizi Irrigation Project in Chitipa is in a mess following the authorities’ failure to provide funds for its completion.
The irrigation dam which was meant to benefit over 100 households is now serving just 10 families due to the absence of canals to enhance the system so that it feeds an extensive area.
Reports indicate that after receiving the K4 million from the Local Development Fund (LDF), Chitipa District Council was responsible for soliciting slightly over a million for the final touches on the project which include fitting in of water canals.
This comes at a time when government has heightened its calls for irrigation agriculture after President Peter Mutharika declared a hunger crisis few months ago with over six million Malawians facing starvation.
Adam Simpokolwe, who the dam lies in his compound, said in a recent interview that during the first two years of the project council authorities made frequent visits to the site, and assured locals that money would be made available.
“For the past year, we have not heard from them, and when we ask we are pushed from one office to the other, it’s a concern for all members of the cooperative because it’s like killing our dream,” lamented Simpokolwe.
“Even to the few of us currently utilising the dam things are still tough because it is the man-powered kind of irrigation. Obviously we are not expected to cover all the potential land using watering cans or pails,” he added.
But Director of Planning and Development f o r Chitipa District Council, Eric Ngozo, denied negligence on their part and attributed the situation to miscommunication.
According to Ngozo midway the project, council officials realised that an irrigation project was not viable for the area hence a decision was made to embark on fish farming.
“Yes the project stalled for right reasons, but I understand that dam is to be turned into a fish pond and the council is mobilising resources to orient members of the cooperative on the new project,” he explained.
Unconvinc ed with Ngozo’s explanation, Simpokolwe wondered why it took the council so long to communicate on the changes arguing whatever the case the cooperative remains passionate about crop husbandry.
And Head of Development Communications at LDF, Booker Matemvu, did not mince words but accused council authorities of laxity which he said is defeating the purpose of the project.
Matemvu said such is a common syndrome in many other districts such as Machinga and thus called on seriousness on the part of councils saying locals identify projects which are a priority to them
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