Chronicle EditorSikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Reporter
CONSTRUCTION of the US$1,1 billion impact dams across the country is progressing well with the flagship dam, Lake Gwayi-Shangani now at 68 percent completion while Ziminya Dam in Nkayi is at eight percent.
Tuli Manyange Dam in Matabeleland South is at 33 percent.
The Government, through the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa), is implementing 12 high impact dam construction project across the country in line with the Second Republic’s vision to transform Zimbabwe into an upper-middle income economy by 2030.
Ziminya Dam is being built at a cost of US$133 million and according to Zinwa which the Government has given a new mandate to drive the realisation of a water secure, climate and drought-proof nation, construction of the coffer-dam and foundation clearance is at 65 and 95 percent respectively while the road leading to the dam site is 65 percent complete.
A coffer-dam is a structure that holds or guards water away from a work area. By dewatering a worksite, construction crews are able to use their equipment and materials with better precision.
Tuli Manyange in Matabeleland South will use US$88 million when complete.
For Lake Gwayi-Shangani, Government budgeted US$289 million towards the whole project which includes dam construction and laying of the 252km pipeline to Bulawayo.
The dam height now stands at 31 metres from a maximum height of 72 metres.
Zinwa said 140km has been cleared for the pipeline while 9km has since been excavated with pipeline trenching in progress.
The new dams will also have hydro-power stations in line with the Second Republic’s thrust of rural industrialisation as the nation targets food self-sufficiency.
Electricity generated from the dam sites will provide power to rural communities while also powering irrigation projects set to be established following construction of the water bodies.
“The water infrastructure projects that are being carried out will benefit both urban and rural areas. Dams such as Bindura, Chivhu, Semwa, Ziminya, Gwayi-Shangani and Kunzwi will go a long way in resolving water supply challenges in cities and local authorities such as Harare, Bulawayo, Bindura, Chivhu, Nkayi and Rushinga. The dams will also supply irrigation water for various identified beneficiary communities in mostly rural areas,” said the Zinwa corporate communications and marketing manager, Mrs Marjorie Munyonga, in response to questions from the Chronicle.
She said upon completion, Ziminya Dam will open the path for the growth and expansion of Nkayi as a district through the opening up of 1 250 hectares of irrigated land, fishery projects and orchards which will also naturally lead to the creation of employment for the locals. This resonates very well with the “leaving no one and no place behind” philosophy.
“The Ziminya Dam project entails the construction of the 2 million cubic metre dam, the construction of Nkayi Water Treatment Plant and the establishment of an irrigation scheme. Its completion will open the path for the growth and expansion of Nkayi as well as the opening up of 1 250 hectares of irrigated land in the area. This will go a long way in the transformation of livelihoods in Nkayi and also in the improvement of food security for the surrounding communities,” said Mrs Munyonga.
Treasury is funding the high impact dams project through the Public Sector Investment Programme (PSIP).
The Government has put at the top of its agenda infrastructure development.
President Mnangagwa’s vision has seen projects that have seemingly been a mere pipe dream being resuscitated.
Ziminya Dam construction was mooted 24 years ago in 1998 but nothing had been done until new contracts were awarded last year with teams moving to the ground this year. Tuli Manyange was mooted in 1995 while Lake Gwayi-Shangani was mooted in 1912 with brief construction work starting in 2003 before it stalled again until 2018. Government intends finishing the project in 2023.
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