THE Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Development on Wednesday embarked on a countrywide tour to assess progress on various dam construction projects that the government is implementing through the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA).
The committee began the tour at Semwa Dam, located on Ruya River about 50 km east of Mt Darwin in Mashonaland Central Province, which is being constructed by Makomo Engineering which won the tender in 2006.
Construction was suspended a year later due to lack of funds and only resumed in 2013.
When complete, the dam is expected to provide irrigation water for 12 000 hectares, have a power generation plant, agro-based activities and fisheries, among other economic activities.
Addressing the legislators, ZINWA director of engineering and hydrological services, Engineer Takudza Makwangudze, said the dam was at 34 percent completion stage.
“We are still working on the foundations which are very key to construction of water retention structures. In terms of progress, we are on 34.2 percent and this includes permanent access roads, blasting and clearing,” he said.
“So far we have spent US$120 million from the US$380 million or so that was budgeted for the project.”
He said Semwa Dam was expected to irrigate 12 000 hectares, provide potable water to Rushinga, Mt Darwin and other local authorities, generate 7MW of electricity and provide water to other communities.
“Once we come out of the foundation we will be able to see commendable progress,” Makwangudze said.
At least 13 of the affected 141 families downstream of the dam were relocated before the onset of the project.
“But our desire would be that we quickly reorganise those communities so that when we get sufficient funding, we move without any disturbances,” said Eng. Makwangudze.
Makwangudze said a total of 12 dams are at various stages of construction countrywide, but only two are prioritised for completion in 2024 and 2025.
“The approach we have taken as ZINWA is to prioritize and for 2024 and 2025, we are targeting to complete two major projects Kunzvi and Gwayi-Shangaani Dams and those have been receiving considerable funding from Government and we have made quite remarkable progress,” he said.
Kunzvi Dam in Mashonaland East Province is touted as the solution to the capital city’s water challenges, while Gwayi-Shangaani is also expected to quench Bulawayo’s thirst.
Acting committee chair, Mberengwa West MP Tafanana Zhou, commended President Mnangagwa’s administration for funding all the projects to ensure that no place is left behind.
“Since the New Dispensation came in, we are seeing a lot of progress which is commendable. As a committee, we are going to push so that the projects get some funding from Government and that disbursements are done as soon as the budget is passed next year,” he told the media.
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