Cunene: Cunene Provincial Governor Gerdina Didalelwa anticipates that investors from Namibia and South Africa will show interest in the development of irrigated areas served by the Ndºe and Calucuve canals in Angola. These projects are due to be inaugurated on Saturday in the Cuvelai Municipality.
According to Angola Press News Agency, the governor expressed that the province is drawing businesspeople from neighboring countries, who are keenly awaiting the completion of these dams to invest in Angola. The infrastructure offers hope to a population long-stricken by drought, providing a basis for prosperity through the development of irrigated agricultural production.
Governor Didalelwa highlighted the shift from reliance solely on rainfall to the emergence of irrigated agriculture, paving the way for commercial-scale production that can sustain the province's population and facilitate the export of surplus products. She emphasized that the commissioning of the two dams will significantly enhance local communities' lives by ensuring water availability for human consumption, livestock, and year-round agriculture.
While progress is noted in the fight against drought, the governor mentioned additional challenges that need addressing, such as industrial development, energy supply, road infrastructure, and skilled personnel training.
The Ndºe and Calucuve water dams are integral to the Programme to Combat the Effects of Drought in Southern Angola (PCESSA), initiated in 2019. The inauguration on Saturday will be presided over by President Joo Louren§o, who arrives in Cunene Province on Friday, with President F©lix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of the Congo attending as a special guest.
President Louren§o's visit will also include the inauguration of the Cunene Youth Centre, 'Olukeno', as part of the Ngana Zenza Foundation's community development initiatives led by First Lady Ana Dias Louren§o.
Implemented by the Ministry of Energy and Water (MINEA), PCESSA has been under the President's regular oversight, with visits to Cunene Province in recent years. The program also saw the inauguration of the Cafu Water Transfer System in 2022, benefiting thousands of people, animals, and hectares of agricultural land.
Ndºe and Calucuve are among five strategic projects aimed at combating drought in the province. The Ndºe project, stretching through various municipalities, is expected to benefit 55,000 residents and 60,000 cattle, creating employment opportunities primarily for young people. It features a dam capable of storing 170 million cubic meters of water, supported by a 75-kilometer feeder canal.
The Calucuve project, located in Mukolongodjo Commune, is set to aid nearly 200,000 cattle and over 80,000 residents, with a dam storing around 141 million cubic meters of water connected to a 240-kilometer feeder canal.
Construction of these dams began in October 2021, with former Minister of State for the Social Area, Carolina Cerqueira, laying the foundation stone. The projects are expected to play a crucial role in addressing the cyclical drought impacting southern Angola's communities.
