Online Reporter
Vusumuzi Dube in Gwayi
VICE President Dr Constantino Chiwenga has described the Lake Gwayi-Shangani project as an emotional undertaking that the Second Republic holds close to its heart — and one that must be completed as a matter of urgency.
Speaking during a tour of the project yesterday, the Vice President said while he was satisfied with the progress made so far, there was a need to accelerate construction to ensure completion well ahead of the November 2026 target set by the project team.
“You are all aware that this project, historically, was first mooted in 1912 when the colonial regime was still here, but nothing really took place. One hundred years down the line, this project had to be resuscitated. The coming in of the Second Republic saw the need for this project. Yes, there was an initiative taken by the Matabeleland Zambezi Water Project, and we give them credit — they raised the dam wall to 12 metres, and Government took it from there to where it is today.
“With the current progress of two metres a month, we want a maximum of four metres a month. There is nothing that can stop us from completing this project. This is a major undertaking that has to be completed because it is an emotional project and, secondly, it is a top-priority project for our second metropolitan city, Bulawayo,” said VP Chiwenga.
The dam is now reportedly 73 percent complete following renewed Government funding for the flagship national project. The dam wall has reached 43 metres and will stand at 72 metres once fully completed.
Authorities have revealed that construction is progressing at two metres of the dam wall per month, but with increased funding, the pace could double to four metres per month.
Lake Gwayi-Shangani forms the first phase of the National Matabeleland Zambezi Water Project (NMZWP), which also includes a 252-kilometre pipeline to Bulawayo and a 122-kilometre pipeline linking the dam to the Zambezi River.
