Chronicle Editor
Rutendo NyeveSunday News Reporter
THE Mtshabezi Dam pipeline re-routing project, which is currently in the tendering stage, is expected to be completed by October in a development that is expected to ease Bulawayo’s water woes.
The re-routing through the Mzingwane booster pumps is set to increase the efficiency and speed of water transportation to the treatment works, thereby boosting water supplied to Bulawayo. Out of the city’s six supply dams, Mtshabezi Dam carries the better volumes at 53.34 percent full according to the latest council statistics.
It is followed by Insiza with 44 percent, Inyankuni at 22 percent while Lower and Upper Ncema sit at 15.83 percent and 8.94 percent, respectively. Umzingwane, which was decommissioned in November last year has a mere 2.30 percent. With three of the key strategic dams set to be out by September, Mtshabezi Dam is set to play a pivotal role as a short-term intervention to the city’s water challenges.
Speaking during a site visit to some of the areas where various water projects, aimed at easing the city’s water woes, are taking place, Bulawayo Water Technical Committee chairperson, Engineer Annatoria Chinyama said they expect the project to be completed by October.
“We received funding from the Government to the tune of US$2,8 million to refurbish the infrastructure, which was affecting the supply of water to Bulawayo. The Mtshabezi – Umzingwane interlinking Pipeline bypass project was advertised on June 30 and a compulsory site briefing meeting was held on July 12, 2024, the project is currently in the tendering stage, which is expected to close on July 30.
“Once the tendering is done, we expect the contractor to move onto site and commence the works. The pipeline originally comes from Mtshabezi dam and goes straight to Ncema treatment works using gravity. As such, the by-pass will enable the council to now pump the water to the treatment works, which will improve the water supply and efficiencies, said Eng Chinyama.
She said because the water goes by gravity, council does not have much control over the amount of water being moved, resulting in the decision to pump it.
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