By Isaac Salima:
The Shire Valley Transformation Programme (SVTP) has currently covered 43 kilometres of the targeted 50 kilometres in the first phase of canal construction.
Officials disclosed this during a visit to the implementation districts of Chikwawa and Nsanje by members of the Presidential Chief Advisor on Manifesto Implementation Unit.
SVTP is the government’s flagship programme aimed at improving and commercialising agriculture in the country.
Under the programme, the government is constructing a canal for irrigation purposes from Kapichira in Chikwawa to Bangula in Nsanje.
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The officials toured the project to assess progress and identify challenges being encountered.
So far, in the first phase, a 43-kilometre canal from the intake at Kapichira to Lengwe National Park has been constructed.
Service Design Engineering specialist for the Manifesto Implementation Unit, George Matipwiri, said he was impressed with the progress made so far.
“We are pleased that the project is now taking shape. There were some bottlenecks due to destruction caused by Cyclone Ana. But with lessons learnt, many changes have been made to the designs and we are assured that by October this year, water will start flowing,” Matipwiri said.
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He further assured that President Peter Mutharika would intervene on other challenges facing the project.
During the visit, some chiefs complained about poor workmanship and delays in implementation.
Acting Project Coordinator Limbani Gonani praised the officials for their engagement, saying it is crucial for the project’s success.
“It is not delays per se, but during the course of the project, we faced some challenges as a result of Cyclone Ana. So, we had to learn lessons and construct infrastructure that will withstand the test of time,” Gonani said.
Some farmer cooperatives, such as Kambadwe and Mwanaalirenji, are expected to benefit from the project as they have been allocated irrigation blocks.
The 43 kilometres covered so far extend from Kapichira main intake to Lengwe.
At Kapichira, a temporary intake is being constructed and the permanent intake is scheduled for construction in 2027.
