Sharleen Mohammed

Residents in Mt Darwin say meaningful rural transformation requires continuity in leadership and uninterrupted funding, arguing that large-scale development programmes cannot be completed within short political cycles. 

Speaking during public hearings on Constitutional Amendment Bill No.3 (CAB3), several community members said five-year terms are often too short for heavy infrastructure rural projects, which require long planning, financing and implementation phases. 

They noted that as elections approach, national attention and financial resources sometimes shift toward electoral processes, slowing drive on ongoing development initiatives.

"You cannot complete major infrastructure within a short political cycle," said one resident Tendai Mazarura. 

Another resident concurred "Dams, irrigation infrastructure  and rural industrial projects take years, development does not happen overnight." 

Community members said stability allows leaders from Councillors to Members of Parliament to focus on implementation rather than repeated campaign cycles.

In Mt Darwin, this discussion is closely tied to the near-completion of the Semwa Dam, now reported to be 63 percent complete. The dam is expected to anchor a drip irrigation scheme that will support village business units, school business units and youth led income generating projects. 

Fatima Kajombo, a mother of three said the irrigation scheme represents more than farming. "When the dam is complete, young people can run nutrition gardens, schools can smoothly operate business units and households can produce throughout the year. 

"That kind of transformation needs time and policy consistency," she said. 

Women in the district also highlighted the impact of borehole drilling programmes that have improved access to safe and clean water. In the past, women and girls walked long distances to fetch water, exposing themselves to safety risks.

Rumbidzai Chikuni said the changes have improved both security and livelihoods. "We used to travel far for water, sometimes before sunrise. It was risky and exhausting. Now boreholes are closer, and we can even use the water for small gardens. Life is improving."

Residents said projects such as dam construction, irrigation development and rural water infrastructure form the backbone of long term rural transformation. For many in Mt Darwin, the message is clear, beyond political debate, what matters most is ensuring that development initiatives are given sufficient time to mature, deliver food security and improve household incomes.