CHAPTER 557: CHAPTER 235 KUI RIVER ARCH DAM

Planning a colony is not something that can be accomplished overnight; it requires preparation. However, to prevent unexpected changes, the earlier you take action, the better. Colonialism emphasizes a brazen approach: seize it first, and the rest will be easier to handle later.

This is basically the approach taken by most colonizers, especially the great powers, who are adept at acting first and dealing with the consequences later. Faced with the strength of the colonizers, others have no choice but to accept it while holding their noses.

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Farabana Village is located in the northern part of Matebele Province (Zimbabwe).

With East Africa’s focus on developing Matebele Province, the area has gained more population. However, given East Africa’s national conditions, it still appears quite sparse, with villages spaced relatively far apart.

The situation is reversed near the cities. As more advanced systems, cities require more division of labor and cooperation, so the villages nearby tend to be more densely clustered.

Although East Africa is vast and sparsely populated, its road construction has not lagged behind at all, making transportation relatively convenient. About five or six years ago, not even a dirt road existed, which was truly difficult. Fortunately, East Africa’s climate is predominantly savanna, which is not too challenging to develop, especially suitable for cavalry activities.

Currently, East Africa has a considerable number of horses, about more than 800,000. However, considering the vast expanse of grassland, this number is still far from sufficient, especially when compared to Mexico and Brazil, which share similar climates.

Mexico and Brazil both have tropical savanna climates, though their areas are smaller compared to East Africa. Yet, Mexico and Brazil have the second and third largest horse populations in the Americas, with the United States being the first.

The number of horses and cattle in East Africa are not on the same level, which relates to East Africa’s agricultural policies.

Currently, East Africa primarily promotes cattle plowing. After all, horses were introduced from Eurasia and are not yet well-adapted to the African climate. East Africa is actively cultivating its own local horse breeds, directly importing a batch from Mexico and Brazil.

Cattle are easier to raise than horses, and the cost of raising cattle is lower. Plowing is endurance work; during continuous high-intensity plowing seasons, horses lose weight quickly, whereas cattle, with enough grass and a bit of grain, show strong endurance.

Moreover, due to the immigrant nature of East Africa, there is a strong push for promoting oxen, as they are easier to control than horses. As the saying goes, "lead a cow by its nose," whereas controlling horses is not as easy. Horses are more delicate and spirited, requiring careful care and management, which involves higher investment. Of course, the speed of horses gives them important military value.

Many immigrants to East Africa were the so-called "abjectly poor" in their past lives, while cattle and horses are valuable assets typically owned by landlords and noble lords; wealthy farmers and self-cultivating farmers might afford them, but such people would not come to East Africa.

Thus, most immigrants to East Africa lack experience handling large livestock for farming. Fortunately, East Africa practices collective agriculture, and there are people who know how to use and raise draft cattle. By pooling resources, they manage to get by, and gradually others learn as well.

Farabana Village is deep inland and has not fully implemented the policy of replacing slaves with livestock, but with the booming livestock industry in East Africa, some have been distributed to be used alongside slaves.

The rural construction level in Matebele is certainly not as high as in Central Province, but the conditions are not worse than in other regions.

This is primarily due to policy; Matebele Province is designated as an industrial province, so the East African government has invested significantly, establishing three steel plants, all located near the Central Railway, facilitating resource coordination.

The resource distribution in Matebele Province is quite interesting: it follows the Central Railway, situated along the province’s central mineral belt. Once the Central Railway opened, it unlocked the key to Matebele Province’s industrial development.

Based on the three steel plants, other industrial developments in Matebele are also relatively good compared to the rest of East Africa, such as not needing to import farm tools from other provinces.

While East Africa’s major mineral resources are concentrated, small mines in other regions do exist, but they are not documented. Instead, East Africa’s industrial investment prefers establishing large plants, resulting in industrial distribution by region, requiring areas without major mines to import steel from other provinces.

In other words, the utilization of resources in East Africa is insufficient, but this has its advantages. Small mines and artisanal workshops lack technical advantages and have low utilization rates, and East Africa lacks professional talent. Setting up large enterprises benefits national management.

June marks the dry season in Matebele Province, and as the rainy season approaches, water conservancy projects in East Africa thrive.

Around Farabana Village, there is also a small-scale water conservancy project underway: the Kui River Arch Dam Project.

The Kui River Arch Dam is a type of dam used to intercept river water, though its purpose is not to block the river. Instead, it involves constructing a moderately sized dam within the riverbed. In the dry season, it prevents the water from flowing away aimlessly. During the rainy season, the rising water level submerges the dam, channeling it into the tributaries of the Zambezi River, similar to a reservoir but not obstructing the river’s flow.

"The Kui River Arch Dam Project is a government-prioritized project. The Kui River is an essential irrigation river within Chisang Town. After three months of hard work, I hereby announce the Kui River Arch Dam’s official completion." The mayor of Chisang Town personally visited to commend the front-line construction workers.

"In the future, during the dry season, the water in Kui River will remain largely in the channel, making water usage during the dry season much easier. Additionally, the Kui River Arch Dam can serve as a bridge, facilitating travel for everyone."

"During the rainy season, the river water will overflow this point. If urgent, you can pass through here, but if the water level is high, be cautious and do not take unnecessary risks."

"Hans, you must especially pay attention in your village every November when the rainy season arrives. The river can rise unexpectedly, so ensure the children in the village stay away from this area. Additionally, the government must also ensure safety in the Kui River region."

Hans: "Rest assured, Mayor, even if you hadn’t mentioned it, I would still be cautious. I’ve served in the army and am quite familiar with East Africa’s rainy seasons. I always follow government directives and have educated these new immigrants accordingly. I know what’s at stake."

"That’s reassuring. The river surges during the rainy season are no joke. Previously, while repairing a river channel in Bumixier Village, some black slaves were swept away due to sudden upstream water flow. Fortunately, they were black slaves; otherwise, there would have been serious repercussions."

Hans: "Don’t worry, I will be vigilant."

"Moreover, since the Kui River Arch Dam is built in your village, its future management will be entrusted to you. If any major issues arise, report them promptly. For minor issues, resolve them if possible. The city and the town will conduct irregular quality inspections of the project. There must be no significant errors."

Although the mayor of Chisang Town spoke as if it were grave, it was essentially routine. East Africa’s projects are built solidly. The Kui River Arch Dam won’t have any issues for decades or more if maintained well; it could last over a hundred years.

As for government inspections, no one would routinely go to a small place like Farabana Village. The mayor also mentioned that these inspections are irregular, which could mean annually or every few years.

Nevertheless, the Kui River Arch Dam affects the entire Kui River. Although it’s an inconspicuous small river, it holds significant importance for Chisang Town’s agriculture, not just a matter for Farabana Village. This is why the Chisang Town mayor prioritizes this project.