adminWalter Mswazie Masvingo Correspondent
THE much-awaited multi-million dollar Tokwe-Mukorsi dam is now 96 percent complete and likely to be handed over to the Government next January, the project’s contractor has said. Italian contractor Italia-Impregillio project manager Engineer Urbano Luso said much of the work has been done and in a few months the project will be handed over to the Government.
“Our work here is nearly complete after we resumed in May. I’m sure we’re going to beat the target given the rate at which we’re moving. “We can say we’ve covered at least 96 percent of the work and we’re on track as we’re earmarking January as the time to hand over the project to the Government,” said Eng Luso. He said they had recruited more workers to work on site from 10 to over 100.
“We’ve recruited more workers and it’s back to business now. We’ve over 100 workers now and everyone is geared for work. So far everything is going well and smoothly with the dam wall almost complete after the Government met its side of the bargain,” said Eng Luso.
The Italian contractor stopped work on December 18, 2014 citing non-payment of about $35 million. Work resumed in May this year after the Government released the outstanding payment. Masvingo provincial administrator Mr Felix Chikovo said the province was happy with progress made so far at the dam.
“I’ve been apprised on the progress at our main dam project and we are happy because once it’s complete the province will be a food basket for the country. “The much awaited dam is near completion that anytime soon it will be handed to government by the contractor,” he said. With a capacity of 1,8 billion cubic metres of water when full, the dam has the potential to irrigate all year-round in excess of 25,000 hectares.
Online Reporter