adminthe construction of Tokwe-Murkosi Dam.
The taskforce will among other things solicit for land donations from mainly resettled farmers and conservancy operators.
The dam construction is expected to be complete by 2013.
Governor and Resident Minister Titus Maluleke on Tuesday said the taskforce would be responsible the exhumation of thousands of graves in the area to be covered by the dam’s water.
“There has to be some rituals and other cultural formalities that have to be conducted first before the exhumation process takes place and that will all be spearheaded by that taskforce,” he said.
Governor Maluleke said the provincial leadership would approach neighbouring provinces for more land if it is required.
Construction at Tokwe-Murkosi dam resumed in April this year after Government paid US$30 million to an Italian contractor Salini Impregilio that had suspended the main contract citing payment problems.
“We will approach other provinces with a request for land to resettle some of the families though we would have wanted to resettle them in Masvingo so that they benefit from the dam’s water,” he said.
Construction work at Tokwe-Murkosi dam resumed in April this year after Government paid nearly US$30 million to an Italian contractor Salini Impregilio that had suspended the main contract citing payment problems.
The payment has seen work resume after three years.
It is estimated that the dam, billed to be Zimbabwe’s largest inland water body, will open for irrigation in 2013.
Experts believe the dam would have a capacity to irrigate 25 000 hectares of land.
The affected families have appealed to Government to be among the beneficiaries of irrigation projects.
Online Reporter