THE recurrent vandalism and theft of armoured cables at Chimwe-Chegato Irrigation Scheme in Mberengwa, Midlands province has irked the project’s benefactor and community members amid concerns over serious food shortages in the district.
The armoured cables used for power generation, are connected from a transformer to engines that pump water from the dam for irrigation purposes.
The irrigation’s benefactor, Takavafira Zhou, said Mberengwa was burning and sinking in poverty amid starvation.
Zhou said there was a critical shortage of food due to El Niño-induced drought as crops were a complete failure, adding that the government’s food relief programme was not enough.
“Imagine out of 79 households under a village head, Tasaranago, only six households are getting something after three months,” he said.
Zhou, who is also the former secretary for the Mberengwa Lithium Community Lobby Group and secretary for external affairs of Lemba Cultural Association, said the possible source of livelihood, Chimwe-Chegato irrigation scheme, with 124 plot holders, had been hit by recurrent thefts and vandalism.
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He accused the government of neglecting the starving populace.
“I bought an armoured cable in May this year at the cost of US$868 to allow villagers to grow crops after the other one was stolen,” Zhou said.
“They started their winter wheat cultivation followed by maize cultivation. Now when their maize had reached a critical stage of growth, thieves have stolen 70 metres of armoured cable, plunging the populace into a serious threat of hunger.
“The government has abandoned the rural populace, while the legislators for Mberengwa Central and West and the Senator have abandoned people to perpetual poverty and starvation.”
Zhou said this was happening at a time when politicians and the Chinese have increased their looting of lime, lithium, chrome, platinum, emerald, gold, antimony and copper, among other minerals, in typical resource curse.
“The people of Mberengwa have nothing to show for their abundant natural resources except environmental terrorism, development of underdevelopment, underdevelopment of development, poverty, misery and starvation,” he said.
Midlands provincial police spokesperson Inspector Emmanuel Mahoko confirmed the theft and said police are investigating a case of theft of copper cables where a 74-metre electricity cable was stolen at Chimwe-Chegato Irrigation in Mberengwa.
“The incident was discovered on 25 September 2024 at about 12 noon. Rabson Gilbert (52) of Jeka business Centre, Mberengwa discovered that a cable which connects the pumphouse for Chimwe Irrigation and the main electricity line was cut-off. He then phoned the loss control officer at Zesa Mataga and informed him,” Mahoko said.
“The matter was reported to the police, who attended the scene. We are appealing for information that can lead to the arrest of the culprits in the case to visit any Police Station with the information.”