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The Gwayi-Shangani Dam project has reached 82 percent completion, with the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) positioning the major infrastructure project at the centre of its strategy to mitigate the anticipated El Niño-induced drought.
Addressing delegates at the Zimbabwe 2026/27 Agricultural Season – A Whole-of-Value-Chain Preparedness Summit held at the Harare Show Grounds today, ZINWA’s Hydrological Services Manager, Nyashadzashe Viriri, said the completion of Gwayi-Shangani, alongside the Kunzvi Dam project which sits at 76 percent completion, would anchor national water security.
“The essence of the construction of these schemes is to capture water during the years when we have excess, and in years that would otherwise be very poor seasons,” said Mr Viriri. “Due to the development which we have been doing as a country, and from the water resources which we now have, the water levels are actually high, so it will go a long way in mitigating against the expected El Niño system.”
While Gwayi-Shangani forms the bulk of the long-term water security plan, Mr Viriri outlined complementary measures being rolled out to cushion farmers and communities in the immediate term.
He revealed that ZINWA has drilled over 6 000 boreholes under the Presidential Rural Development Programme, primarily targeting dry areas to provide water for domestic and livestock use.
“We are also looking at expanding our irrigation area, with the target being on largely underutilised dams. We have identified about 18 000 hectares,” he said, adding that large dams have the capacity to store excess water for use during crises.
To manage scarce water resources, Mr Viriri said users would be registered, while the authority would embark on rehabilitating community boreholes and water points through a rural watch programme. Water testing remains a key component of the ongoing initiatives.
He emphasised that addressing water-related issues was a government mandate that cuts across all sectors of the economy. “We need water for domestic needs, for education, and for all sectors of the economy,” he said.
The summit, organised by Zimpapers, was held under the theme: “Planning, Preparing and Protecting Zimbabwe’s 2026/27 Agricultural Season.” It brought together input suppliers, insurers, farmers, extension officers, traders, policymakers, and development partners to deliberate on value-chain preparedness ahead of the cropping season.
