More dams to be built

Kamangeni Phiri Midlands Bureau Chief
THE government is working on constructing more dams as a way of averting the challenges posed by climate change, the Minister of Environment, Water and Climate, Cde Saviour Kasukuwere said yesterday.Delivering a public lecture at the Midlands State University in Gweru, he said his ministry was pushing for dam construction as a way of saving water bodies like rivers that were being threatened by siltation caused by mining companies and artisanal miners.

“As you are all aware, climate change is one of the biggest threats facing mankind. Science has clearly demonstrated that there is extreme urgency in taking real action to avoid irreversible damages to our planet. Reports of the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change state that Africa will suffer the most from the impacts of climate change. Zimbabwe is not immune to these impacts. Hence my ministry has priotised the construction of more dams in the country to try and avert the challenges of climate change. So we got fully out to develop and construct new dams across the country. We must dam our country as much as possible,” he said.

Cde Kasukuwere said the impact of extreme events on water resources of Zimbabwe in particular water security of big cities such as Bulawayo and Harare has had an effect on the industrial activities in the country.

He said government was committed to the $1.2 billion Gwayi-Shangani water project for Bulawayo.

Cde Kasukuwere said the government’s dam construction programme was hinged on the economic blue print, Zim-Asset, as the dams would help create a greenbelt that will boost food security. The dams, he added, will be generating hydro-electricity and help reduce the power deficit in the country.

Cde Kasukuwere said poverty within urban set ups can be tackled by empowering local authorities to set up irrigation schemes after availing pieces of land.

The Minister also expressed concern over the high level of siltation in the country’s water bodies.

He said siltation contributes to droughts and floods.

“Lake Kariba is a major source of revenue but of concern water levels are decreasing. Rivers and streams are silted through panning and stream bank cultivation. Most Midlands dams are about 89 percent full. When the rains come, the rivers and dams quickly fill up causing floods,” said Cde Kasukuwere.

He said the developed world’s economic development and prosperity, through the use of fossil fuels, has led to the current climate change through emissions of greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxides, among others) as they built up in the atmosphere to form a blanket that does not allow heat to escape into space.

He urged Zimbabweans to develop a culture of harvesting water.