Osborne Dam repairs near completion

The dam, which was 55 percent full when Cde Muchinguri-Kashiri visited in July and now 40 percent, lost a considerable amount of water owing to the poor workmanship on the floodgates.

Senior Reporter
EXPERTS repairing outlets at Osborne Dam to avoid further uncontrolled release of water and enhance proficient water harvesting are expected to complete their work by end of next week, The Manica Post has learnt.

The floodgates at Osborne Dam have been inadvertently releasing water for quite some time, but following the Minister of Environment, Water and Climate, Cde Muchinguri-Kashiri’s visit alongside Zimbabwe National Water Authority officials in July, a decision was made to ensure that the outlets were repaired.

The dam, which was 55 percent full when Cde Muchinguri-Kashiri visited in July and now 40 percent, lost a considerable amount of water owing to the poor workmanship on the floodgates.

When Cde Muchinguri-Kashiri visited the site again last Friday week, ZINWA and Southern African Diving Contractors (SADC) working on the repairs told her that they had missed their target by a few days and would have completed their operations by end of next week.

“The Honourable Minister of Environment, Water and Climate visited Osborne Dam on July 17, 2015 to get appraised of the situation obtaining at the dame concerning the outlets. After the appraisal, the honourable minister concluded that the situation could not be allowed to continue and undertook to make concerted efforts to source the funding required to repair the outlets.

“As a result of her efforts, the contractor received $850 000 on August 18, 2015 and a further $200 000 on October 2, 2015. The contractor engaged the Southern African Divising Contractors from South Africa.

“On October 1, a second site meeting was held to review progress. It was noted in this meeting that the works were nine days behind schedule based on the revised programme of September 25, 2015,” reads part of the report presented to Cde Muchinguri-Kashiri last Friday.

After being appraised of the progress made, Cde Muchinguri-Kashiri expressed satisfaction.

“I came here barely a week into office and that shows the importance of this dam to us. I am happy with the progress made so far and I hope we will be able to have the repairs completed within the timeframe pledged,” she said.