Chivhu Dam nears completion

Sunday Mail Reporter

The US$41 million Chivhu Dam will soon be ready for commissioning, with 98 percent of works on the project having been completed.

This follows completion of work on its water treatment plant, which is part of the expansive project designed to supply water to Chivhu town and irrigation for surrounding communities.

In an interview, Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa)’s corporate communications and marketing manager Mrs Marjorie Munyonga said the dam will help ease water challenges in the town.

“Construction of Chivhu Dam remains work in progress, with the dam itself now 98 percent complete,” she said.

“Works on the outlets and spillway are some of the outstanding works as of now.

“However, the Chivhu Water Treatment Plant, which is part of the broader project, is now complete.

“A 120-hectare irrigation scheme is already being established at Chivhu Dam. Part of the irrigation scheme is already complete.”

The project, she added, involves development of a bigger and modern water treatment plant that can process 240-cubic metres of raw water per hour.

The dam will have the capacity to hold 26 million cubic metres of water.

This is one of the 10 dam construction projects being developed by Government to improve the country’s water harvesting capacity.