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expressed optimism that work would be complete by 2013.
Speaking after touring the dam site last week, VP Mujuru said Government would continue prioritising the project in its allocation of resources.
She said the dollarisation of the economy had enabled Government to start budgeting towards the resumption of work at the dam site.
“We are very happy with progress made here, especially considering that the Italian contractors moved some equipment to the site once Government had paid money for construction work to resume,” said VP Mujuru.
“The progress is encouraging and we will continue prioritising the project. With the pace at which work is proceeding here, I am very optimistic that the project would be completed and handed over to Government.”
VP Mujuru said people of Masvingo South and surrounding arid parts of Chivi and Chiredzi should benefit from water once the dam is complete. She said it was important for Government and the political leadership in the area to start preparing on how people will benefit from irrigation schemes.
VP Mujuru said Government wanted to complete the project 10 years ago but the illegal sanctions imposed on the country by the West derailed work.
“Our objective is to make sure that the people benefit through irrigation and once they are able to irrigate their crops, their standards of living would transform,” she said.
VP Mujuru said Government would not tolerate a situation where the water from the dam benefited sugarcane plantations in Chiredzi, while the surrounding people are grappling with drought.
Salini Impregilio, the Italian company’s project manager, Mr Urbano Luzi, told VP Mujuru that his firm was committed to the project as long as Government was supportive through allocation of resources.
Earlier, VP Mujuru had launched the national sanitation week commemorations at Mucheke Stadium .
Online Reporter