Chiefs, Kariba pool project planners lock horns

CHIEFS in towns and villages adjacent to Lake Kariba have raised concern over alleged sidelining of local labour in the US$294 million Kariba Dam plunge pool reshaping project.

Another bone of contention has been the failure by the contractors — Razel-BEC International — to put up permanent structures that will remain when the project is complete.

Tied to that is the alleged failure to advertise for employment which has seen busloads of people from other areas coming to get employed.

To look into the contentious issue, an 11-member grievance handling committee was set up at a heated meeting held recently in Siavonga, Zambia convened by the Zambezi River Authority.

It brought together various interest groups from both Zambia and Zimbabwe to hear concerns of the respective communities on the rollout of the project.

Chief Nyamhunga said the major expectation of traditional leaders when Kariba Dam was constructed leading to the displacement of communities was employment opportunities.

“As chiefs from both Zambia and Zimbabwe our expectation when Kariba Dam was constructed was availing of employment opportunities for our people.

“The expectation remains until now and as traditional leaders we abhor corruption. No one should be asked to pay to get employment as we have been hearing at the Razel-BEC project. If there is employment, those who deserve should get employed,” said Chief Nyamhunga.

This comes amid allegations that people were paying between K500 and K1 000 to get employed.

The grievance handling committee comprises chiefs Simamba and Nyamhunga, Kariba district development coordinator Mr Shepherd Marweyi and Siavonga district commissioner Lovemore Kanyama, civic society representatives from the two countries.

Chief Simamba of Siavonga said the grievances from the community should be resolved as a matter of urgency.

“There are some issues which the community is facing regarding the company Razel-BEC. The community has a problem in terms of employment,” he said.

“A lot of people who are employed here come from other districts and provinces. People from this area are not being considered. It is not wrong to have people come from other areas, but if we have more than 75 percent coming from other areas, it becomes unfair.”

In any project, Chief Simamba said, local communities should benefit significantly.

He said the grievance handling committee should come up with solutions to the challenges.

Siavonga taskforce chairperson Mr Edward Mirambo bemoaned the lack of permanent structures being constructed under the project.

“One of our grievances is that there are no buildings that have been constructed which we can remain with once the project comes to an end.

“Another issues is the disparity between what our people are getting for doing the same work compared to others. Subcontracting of the project is being done to whiteowned companies,” said Mr Mirambo.

Written complaints have been forwarded to Razel-BEC, funders European Union (EU) and ZRA while the committee is again expected to convene within three weeks.

Rehabilitation works on the plunge pool which is supposed to add another 50 years to the dam is progressing well.