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Bruce Ndlovu, Sunday News Reporter
THE Gwayi Shangani Dam is now 36 percent complete, with high expectations that its completion will help ease perennial water shortages that affect Bulawayo.
The project, which has been subject to delays in the past, was initially expected to be finished by December this year. However, according to Zimbabwe National Water Authority, competition is now expected next year. China International Water and Electric Corporation is the contractor in partnership with (Zinwa). Zinwa corporate communications and marketing manager Mrs Marjorie Munyonga told Sunday News that construction on the dam was well on course despite the revised completion targets.
“Work on the construction of Gwayi Shangani Dam is progressing quite well, with the project now 36 percent complete. Current works include the placement of concrete on the dam wall and the crushing of concrete stones,” she said.
Mrs Munyonga said that on completion Gwayi-Shangani, which will have a 72 metres high dam wall, would become the third largest water body in the country.
“With a holding capacity of 635 million cubic metres of water, Gwayi-Shangani dam will be the largest water body in Matabeleland North Province and the third largest in the country after Tugwi-Mukosi and Mutirikwi both in Masvingo province,” she said.
Mrs Munyonga said the dam could in time to be a solution for the Bulawayo’s water problems, while also bringing economic benefits to surrounding communities. The dam could also provide relief to farmers in the drought-prone Matabeleland province.
“The dam represents a long term solution to the current water challenges for the City of Bulawayo. On completion, the dam, which is on the confluence of Gwayi and Shangani Rivers, is expected to bring about a lot of socio-economic transformation for surrounding communities and other parts of the drought-prone Matabeleland North Province, through the supply of irrigation water.”
Mrs Munyonga the dam could also be used for power generations alleviating the power challenges the country as facing.
“The dam will also have the capacity to generate six mega-watts of electricity. The completion of the dam has been set for December 2020,” she said.
Online Reporter