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The ruling Zanu-PF Masvingo provincial leadership has called on Government to provide the outstanding $30 million required to complete Tokwe-Mukosi Dam in Chivi. Announcing resolutions of the provincial inter-district conference held recently, provincial secretary for administration, Cde Ezra Chadzamira, said Masvingo wanted the Tokwe-Mukosi Dam to be completed soon.
He said this would unlock the province’s irrigation potential.
Cde Chadzamira said the completion of the Tokwe -Mukosi Dam was one of the key resolutions, which the ruling party structures in Masvingo wanted to be tabled for possible adoption at the forthcoming Zanu-PF 15th Annual National People’s Conference to be held in Victoria Falls. ‘’There is unanimity in the party that Zanu-PF should treat the completion of Tokwe-Mukosi Dam next year as top priority because of the dam project’s potential to improve food security through irrigation in Masvingo and the nation at large,’’ he said.
Cde Chadzamira said Government was supposed to set aside adequate funding to complete the stalled dam project after construction stopped in December last year due to lack of funds. Construction of Tokwe-Mukosi Dam started in 1998 with the dam due for completion four years down the line.
However, 17 years on, the dam has not yet been completed, dampening hopes to turn the southern parts of Masvingo into a greenbelt. Tokwe-Mukosi Dam will turn Masvingo into the breadbasket of the country and Government must prioritise the completion of the project next year so that an aggressive irrigation drive can start to eliminate hunger in Masvingo Province,’’ added Cde Chadzamira.
It is currently not clear when the dam project will be completed after the Italian contractor, Salini Impregilio demobilised some of its equipment and left skeletal staff at the dam site. Salini Impregilio is demanding $30 million to finish the dam that is now 90 percent complete.
The dam will irrigate more than 25 000 hectares south of Masvingo Province, while increasing sugar cane production in the Lowveld by 15 percent. About 15 megawatts of electricity, enough to light up the whole of Masvingo, will be generated.
The dam will cumulatively cost $255 million to complete and is being wholly funded by the Government of Zimbabwe. Besides completion of Tokwe -Mukosi Dam the ruling party in Masvingo resolved to press Government to speed up the dualisation of the Beitbridge-Masvingo and Harare -Chirundu highways to curb road carnage.
The dualisation of the highway is also expected to increase the volume of trade between Zimbabwe and South Africa, which is the country’s largest trading partner.
Online Reporter