Dam construction progress report
ZIMBABWE is on course to tackling food insecurity and power shortages with massive progress being recorded under the ongoing dam construction programme.
Ten high-impact dams are currently being developed countrywide in a development that is set to open up more land to irrigation and development of hydro power plants.
Development of the water bodies is also set to boost the tourism and fisheries sector.
Two of the dams, Marovanyati and Muchekeranwa, in Manicaland and Mashonaland East Provinces respectively, have already been completed while the remaining 10 are at an average 33,15 percent completion.
A dam construction progress report released by the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) last week, shows that Government is shelling out about US$1,1 billion to finance the projects.
“On completion, the dams are expected to go a long way in improving access to water for both domestic and agricultural purposes,”reads the report.
Once the dams have been completed, they will have a combined capacity of 1,7 billion cubic metres supporting at least 17 700 hectares of irrigated land.
Zinwa corporate communications and marketing manager Mrs Marjorie Munyonga said: “Government intends to have 350 000 hectares of land under irrigation by 2025 and the dams, on completion, will go a long way in helping Zimbabwe achieve this target.
“As part of its expanded mandate, Zinwa is now expected to develop irrigation infrastructure, including infield works, hence the agricultural components that form the scope of these projects are in line with Zinwa’s mandate.”
Infrastructure Development is at the centre of President Mnangagwa’s development agenda, which seeks to transform Zimbabwe into an upper-middle-income society by 2030.
Progress Chivhu Dam (98 percent)
Construction for the US$42 million dam began in 2005 but stopped the same year only to be revived in 2018 with the coming in of the Second Republic.
About 400 ha of land will be put under irrigation once the dam has been completed, with fisheries, tourism and power generation being the other benefits.
Development of the dam has moved at a lightning pace despite facing challenges such as delays associated with currency volatility, Covid-19 and funding challenges.
Chivhu Dam has a capacity of 26 million cubic metres.
Lake Gwayi Shangani Lake
percent)
(67,5
Perhaps the water body that is set to make the highest impact, Gwayi Shangani has since been elevated to the status of a Lake and has a massive capacity of 635 million cubic metres.
Progress on the US$120 million project is now at 67,5 percent completion.
Construction of Lake Gwayi Shangani was first mooted 1912, but work only started last year.
The water body is expected to decisively deal with Bulawayo’s perennial water problems as well as provide water from irrigation to parts of the Matabeleland region.
Semwa Dam (42 percent)
Construction of the $141 million Semwa Dam across Ruya River, which borders Mt Darwin and Rushinga districts resumed in 2019 after construction stopped in 2015.
Semwa has a capacity to hold 140 million cubic meters and is 42 percent complete. On completion, about 4 000 ha will be put under irrigation while it is also expected to ease water supply challenges in Rushinga.
Bindura Dam (38 percent)
Construction progress at Bindura Dam currently stands at 38 percent.
The US$132 million project was revived in 2018 after construction stopped in 2008.
On top of supplying water to Bindura, the dam will also support 2 000 ha of irrigated land, tourism, fisheries and power generation.
The dam has a capacity of 100 million cubic meters.
Tuli Manyange (33 percent)
The US$87 million Tuli Manyange Dam is currently 33 percent complete.
With construction having stopped in 2006, the project was also revived under the Second Republic.
Located in Gwanda District, the 35 million cubic metre capacity dam is also expected to support agriculture, power generation, tourism and fisheries.
The dam will also irrigate 1 200 ha of land.
Dande (20 percent)
Construction for the 160 million cubic metre capacity water body resumed in 2019 after having stopped in 2002.
Work on the US$253 million project stands at 20 percent.
On completion, Dande Dam is expected to irrigate 4 000 ha as well as provide water for power generation, fishing and tourism.
It will also supply water to surrounding areas.
Kunzvi Dam (14 percent)
The US$108 million Kunzvi Dam is a game changing project that, on completion, will supply water to Harare and surrounding satellite towns.
First mooted in the early 1990s, work on the dam, which has a capacity of 158 million cubic metres, only commenced last year.
The dam will also support fisheries, tourism and power generation.
Overall progress stands at 14 percent.
Silverstroom Dam (12 percent)
Silverstone Dam is located along the Msengezi River near Centenary.
On completion it is expected to will support agriculture, tourism, power generation and fisheries in the district.
Construction of the dam resumed in 2020 after work had ground to a halt in 2005.
On completion, the dam will supply water to Centenary, while also irrigating 2 400 ha.
The project is valued at US$171 million and the water body has a capacity of 140 million cubic meters.
Overall progress stands at 12 percent.
Ziminya Dam (5 percent)
Located in Nkayi, Ziminya Dam is set to be the third largest water body in Matabeleland behind Lake Gwayi Shangani and Tuli Manyange.
The project is valued at US$132 million and the dam will hold 98 million cubic metres.
Ziminya Dam construction was first mooted in 1995, but construction only started in 2021.
It will supply water to Nkayi while supporting irrigation of 1 250 ha of land.
Vungu (2 percent)
The US$87 million Vungu Dam is located in Silobela, Midlands Province.
The dam will hold 118 million and will irrigate 1 200 ha and supply raw water to Cross Roads.
Vungu Dam was first mooted in 2002 but construction only started in 2021.