WATCH: Gwayi-Shangani Dam construction at 82 percent completion

Raymond Jaravaza in Gwayi-Shangani

CONSTRUCTION of the Gwayi-Shangani Dam – one of the flagship projects being implemented by the Second Republic to transform Matabeleland North Province’s economic fortunes – now stands at 82 percent completion.

This was revealed by Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) Engineer Gift Ziweya while he was addressing ruling party provincial leaders and Government officials during a joint Provincial Development Committee (PDC) and Provincial Coordinating Committee (PCC) meeting at the Gwayi-Shangani Damsite Boardroom.

The joint PCC and PDC meeting will give ruling party provincial leaders an opportunity to assess progress on the strategic national project and engage Government on development priorities.

“The dam wall is now at 82 percent complete and we anticipate that the construction of the dam will be complete by the end of the year as long as Government continues giving us the monthly allocation of US$8 million. The funds were increased to US$8 million from US$5 million per month .

“In terms of power generation the dam will generate 10MW of electricity while six pump stations are under construction to pump water to Bulawayo. A water treatment plant will be constructed in Cowdary Park while irrigation schemes will be established along the 256 kilometre pipeline from the dam to Bulawayo,” said Engineer Ziweya.

The Gwayi-Shangani Dam is regarded as a transformative project for Matabeleland North, with its completion expected to support irrigation development, improve water security and unlock opportunities in agriculture and other economic activities.

Beyond the dam, the province is witnessing major infrastructure interventions, including the rehabilitation of the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Highway and rural electrification and irrigation development.

The PCC and PDC engagement at the dam comes at a time when the province is seeking to consolidate the development gains achieved under the Second Republic while pushing for the completion of projects that are already at various stages of implementation.

The meeting is being held under the broader Vision 2030 thrust of attaining an upper middle-income economy by 2030, with the provincial leadership expected to use the engagement to strengthen coordination between political and Government structures in driving development.

The joint meeting will also enable provincial leaders to interact around practical development issues and identify areas requiring increased Government attention and resources.

The speedy completion of strategic infrastructure projects in the province remains critical to unlocking the province’s agricultural, energy, water and industrial potential and ensuring that communities benefit fully from the development momentum currently underway.