adminGeorge Maponga Masvingo Bureau
AN estimated US$43 million is required to complete construction of the Tokwe-Mukosi Dam and Government is confident the project will be completed before the onset of the rainy season.
Treasury has since released US$4 million to enable Italian contractor Salini Impregilio to strengthen the dam wall.
The wall breached early this year after the dam flooded following heavy rains forcing Government to evacuate families living in the basin.
Speaking during a tour by a government technical committee to assess progress on the project, Secretary for Environment, Water and Climate Mr Prince Mupazviriho said the Tokwe-Mukosi Dam was now 84 percent complete.
Mr Mupazviriho said Government wanted to ensure that critical areas on the project were completed before the start of the rainy season.
“We want to make sure that all the critical areas in this project are completed so that even when it rains, water will not seep through the dam wall. We are happy with the support coming from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development who have already released part of the money to start work on the critical areas,’’ he said.
About US$13 million will be required to complete work on all the critical areas, particularly the building of an impermeable concrete membrane to stop water from seeping through the wall.
Deputy Chief Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet Mr Justin Mupamhanga expressed satisfaction with progress made so far.
“We are very happy with the report that we have received from engineers working on this project who are saying they are almost finished and are putting final touches especially making the wall solid so that water does not permeate through. We visited the dam site to see the progress on the ground for ourselves,’’ Mr Mupamhanga said.
Online Reporter