News / National
Zinwa board fired
12 Feb 2014 at 16:45hrs | Views
Environment, Water and Climate minister Saviour Kasukuwere has dissolved the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) board with immediate effect.
Kasukuwere accused the authority's board of failing to monitor and manage the Masvingo-based Tokwe Mukosi Dam - still under construction.
The dam being built on the Tokwe River in Masvingo is close to bursting as water from heavy rains is finding its way through gaps in the uncompleted dam wall.
Tokwe Mukorsi dam was due to be completed at the end of last year but the deadline has passed with construction still not finished.
Pictures from the area show water gushing through breaks in the wall and a huge build-up of water in the reservoir behind it.
Villagers had to be evacuated as quickly as possible, with around 4,000 people believed to be at risk should the dam burst.
Construction of the dam began in 1998 but stalled in 2008.
An Italian company has been brought in to continue with the dam construction. On completion, the dam is set to provide irrigation for the fertile areas of Triangle and Mazoe and also hydro-electric power.
If the wall does collapse, huge swathes of Masvingo Province will be devastated. Large areas of rich agricultural land and the Gonarezhou wildlife reserve are in the direct path of the water.
Reports say that the Italian engineers were faced with all kinds of problems when they took over and have struggled to try and get the dam up to the necessary standard.
Opposition leaders blame government bungling for the crisis with Eddie Cross, member for MDC-T Bulawayo South reported as saying that if the government had heeded the advice given by the engineers brought in from Italy, the crisis would have been averted.
Kasukuwere accused the authority's board of failing to monitor and manage the Masvingo-based Tokwe Mukosi Dam - still under construction.
The dam being built on the Tokwe River in Masvingo is close to bursting as water from heavy rains is finding its way through gaps in the uncompleted dam wall.
Tokwe Mukorsi dam was due to be completed at the end of last year but the deadline has passed with construction still not finished.
Pictures from the area show water gushing through breaks in the wall and a huge build-up of water in the reservoir behind it.
Construction of the dam began in 1998 but stalled in 2008.
An Italian company has been brought in to continue with the dam construction. On completion, the dam is set to provide irrigation for the fertile areas of Triangle and Mazoe and also hydro-electric power.
If the wall does collapse, huge swathes of Masvingo Province will be devastated. Large areas of rich agricultural land and the Gonarezhou wildlife reserve are in the direct path of the water.
Reports say that the Italian engineers were faced with all kinds of problems when they took over and have struggled to try and get the dam up to the necessary standard.
Opposition leaders blame government bungling for the crisis with Eddie Cross, member for MDC-T Bulawayo South reported as saying that if the government had heeded the advice given by the engineers brought in from Italy, the crisis would have been averted.
Source - dailynews
