Andrew
Harmony Agere
TWO major dam construction projects are set to begin before year-end, which will bring the number of such projects currently being undertaken by Government to 10.
The construction of Vungu Dam in the Midlands province and Ziminya Dam in Matabeleland North province, will commence immediately after finalisation of ongoing tendering.
Work on the two projects follow the recent commencement of work on Kunzvi Dam.
Government set aside $10 billion for dam projects this year.
Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) corporate communications and marketing manager, Mrs Marjorie Munyonga, told The Sunday Mail that the tender processes for the two projects were being finalised.
“Eight dams are currently under construction around the country, including Gwayi-Shangani, Chivhu, Semwa, Bindura, Dande Dam, Kunzvi and Tuli-Manyange,” she said.
“Construction of two more dams – Ziminya and Vungu – is expected to commence this year once the tender processes, which are now at a very advanced stage, are complete.”
She said work on the Gwayi-Shangani Dam in Matabeleland North, which is a critical component of the National Matabeleland Zambezi Water Project (NMZWP), is progressing well.
“The dam will provide raw water to Bulawayo, and irrigation water for communities between the dam and Bulawayo. The dam is now 44,2 percent complete.
“Chivhu Dam is also being constructed together with the Chivhu Water Treatment Plant, and it is now 49 percent complete.
“Other dams, which are at different stages of completion, are Tuli-Manyange in Matabeleland South, Silverstroom Dam, Bindura Dam and the Dande Dam in Mashonaland Central.
“Construction of Kunzvi Dam in Mashonaland East also commenced recently.”
Mrs Munyonga said the Muchekeranwa and Marovanyati Dams, which were commissioned recently, are already transforming surrounding communities.
“Muchekeranwa Dam and Marovanyati Dam are the recently commissioned dams, and have already added impetus to the country’s water-harvesting capabilities after both dams filled up and spilled in the last season,” she said.
“Marovanyati has a capacity of 55 million cubic metres, while Muchekeranwa has a capacity of 75 million cubic metres.”
Kunzvi Dam is expected to be commissioned in 2023, and will help to significantly address water shortage challenges in Harare.
According to Zinwa, the baseline cross-sectional surveys for Kunzvi Dam are now complete, and high-flood surveys are underway to determine the number of families that will require relocation.
Online Reporter