Online Reporter
Raymond Jaravaza
Bulawayo Bureau
GOVERNMENT has put in motion plans to relocate 806 families that will be affected by the construction of Lake Gwayi Shangani at a cost of US$28 million when the large water reservoir starts impounding water.
Alternative land has been identified in Kanono area in Lupane District, under Chief Mabhikwa.
The new houses that Government proposes to build are modern four-roomed houses for each of the affected families and a kitchen under the “build back better model” in line with President Mnangagwa’s vision of improving rural livelihoods.
The affected families will also be allocated land for both crop farming and grazing. The families are from Lubimbi area under Chief Kavula in Binga, Matabeleland North, and their land will be submerged in water once the dam starts accumulating millions of cubic metres of water.
Lake Gwayi-Shangani assistant resident Engineer, Joachim Banda, said the process of impounding water in the dam cannot start before the 806 families are relocated.
“The dam will take a space of 10 000 hectares of land where the 806 families are currently living and they all have to be relocated before we start impounding water,” he told a visiting delegation from the province last Friday, which was led by Matabeleland North Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister, Richard Moyo.
He said they hoped to complete the construction of the dam wall by the end of the year.
“For us to meet that target we must get consistent monthly funding from Government, which has been increased to US$8 million from the initial US$5 million that we have been getting.
“We cannot, however, start impounding water by closing the bottom outlets at the dam that are currently allowing water from the river to pass through because the 806 families that will be affected by the push back of water from the dam have not been relocated.
“The cost of constructing the new homes stands at US$28 million,” said Eng Banda.
He said a bill of quantities for the construction of the houses has been handed over to the Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ) for approval with construction expected to begin next year.
“Six pump stations will pump water from the dam all the way to Bulawayo where a water treatment plant will be constructed in Cowdray Park.
“At every pump station along the 252 kilometre pipeline, 200 hectare irrigation plots will be established while 600 hectares of another irrigation plot will be established in the vicinity of the dam,” said Eng Banda.
“The contractor for the 600 hectare irrigation project has already been identified and we expect them to start working as soon as the funds are released by Government.” He said the construction of a power station that will generate 10MW was progressing well.
“Construction of the power station is sitting at 75 percent completion of the civil works and the target is to complete it by the end of the year before equipping the mini hydro with the electro mechanicals, turbines and the switch gear,” said Eng Banda.
In an interview, one of the community leaders of the 806 families Mr Pedious Midzi Ndlovu said it was critical to consider the cultural issues before relocations.
“People have cultural rites they follow hence it is important to consult to avoid violating people’s traditions. People have graves of their mothers, fathers and grandparents and a way has to be found to deal with this issue,” said Mr Ndlovu.
The multi-million-dollar project, a key component of the National Matabeleland Zambezi Water Project (NMZWP) and is a central pillar of President Mnangagwa’s Vision 2030 and his guiding philosophy of leaving no one and no place behind.
Since the colonial era, successive administrations have failed to implement the project until the advent of the Second Republic led by President Mnangagwa, which has delivered impressive results within a short space of time.
The completion of the giant water body is expected to open new opportunities for massive food production through irrigation, tourism and rural industrialisation strides for Matabeleland North.
Other components of the project are also progressing well. The pipeline and pump station number three are at 46 percent completion, while the power station is at 75 percent.
The water treatment plant in Cowdray Park will process more than 100 mega-litres per day and will be a critical component in delivering clean water to Bulawayo residents.
Once completed, Lake Gwayi-Shangani will be Zimbabwe’s third-largest inland water body, with a planned holding capacity of 634.27 million cubic metres.
It is expected to provide a reliable water supply to Bulawayo, generating 220 megalitres of water daily exceeding the city’s demand of 165 megalitres and effectively ending Bulawayo’s perennial water crisis.
Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) Engineer Gift Ziweya said the increase of the monthly funding was meant to accelerate completion of the dam.
“The dam wall is now at 82 percent complete and we anticipate that construction of the dam will be complete by the end of the year as long as Government continues giving us the monthly allocation of US$8 million. The funds were increased to US$8 million from US$5 million per month,” said Eng Ziweya.
He said the project was progressing beyond the dam wall, with critical infrastructure required to convey and utilise the water also taking shape.
Completion of the dam is also expected to transform agricultural production in Matabeleland North by supporting irrigation schemes along the pipeline corridor and creating opportunities for in-creased commercial farming.
