Lake Gwayi-Shangani an engineering marvel, nears completion

THE Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Dr Jenfan Muswere, has described the Gwayi-Shangani Lake, which is at 74 percent completion, as an engineering marvel.

The dam is aimed at solving Bulawayo’s chronic water shortages. It is set to become Zimbabwe’s third-largest inland dam, featuring a 256km pipeline to Bulawayo and a 10MW hydro-power station.

A 10 000-hectare green belt is planned along the pipeline to enhance food security and job creation.

The project is considered a key component of the National Development Agenda, transforming water supply and fostering regional economic growth.

The minister was speaking during a media tour of Matabeleland North’s major and high-impact projects on Friday last week.

He inspected the progress on the Bulawayo Victoria Falls Road and wound up his tour with a visit to one of the seven community radio stations in Matabeleland provinces, Lyeja FM in Hwange town.

“This is an engineering marvel, given the fact that this dam was pegged in 1912, but since then, there was no brick that was laid within this confluence until the coming in of the Second Republic,” said Dr Muswere.

He said the project is not only a success story of one of the achievements that has been registered under the leadership of President Mnangagwa but also the engineering revision in terms of the framework that has been provided, adding that the dam on its own becomes central in integrated segmentation in terms of the economy in that the dam will provide both industrial and domestic water in terms of utilisation.

“Part of the water will be pumped to Bulawayo and in terms of the new dispensation framework, each and every dam should support tourism, clean water and be able to generate electricity,” said Minister Muswere

He said the lake will also have irrigation projects, which will add to the food security assurances.

“Not only do we have this engineering marvel, which will revolutionise and contribute to the economic growth of our economy, but it also supports the communities within its geography and also powers a number of institutions as we continue to ensure that we leave no one and no place behind,” said Dr Muswere.

Government has already said that all the projects are set to be completed this year, marking a significant milestone in efforts to unlock the province’s economic potential and address long-standing infrastructure gaps.

The projects are central to the Government’s devolution and inclusive development agenda.

The rehabilitation of the 440-kilometre road — a key link between Zimbabwe’s tourism capital and the rest of the country — had slowed down in recent weeks owing to heavy downpours that forced contractors to scale down large-scale works and focus on preparatory and palliative activities.

Following the festive season break, all eight contractors deployed by the Government have since been remobilised and are on site, carrying out pothole patching and material stockpiling while closely monitoring weather conditions.

The Nambya language broadcasting station — Lyeja FM — is one of the seven community radio stations licensed by the Government in the Matabeleland region.