News / Regional
Zambezi water project, 100yrs still on paper
04 Jun 2014 at 19:37hrs | Views
The Matabeleland Zambezi River Water Project that has been on the cards for 100 years is yet to get off the ground due to the unavailability of funding.
When complete, the water project will bring to an end Bulawayo's water challenges while creating a green irrigation belt in the region.
The project's Advisory Council Chairman, Mr Donald Khumalo expressed worry at the failure to do meaningful work but said they are in talks with the Ministry of Environment, Water and Climate to ensure work is done on the sites.
He also said it is pleasing to the council that the project has been given priority status in the country's economic blueprint, ZIMASSET, saying it will ensure resources are channeled towards it.
The Senior Minister of State in the President's Office, Cde Simon Khaya Moyo said the government has given the project top priority as espoused in the economic blueprint.
The project is expected to be done in three phases, starting with the construction of the Gwayi-Shangani dam, construction of a pipeline from Gwayi-Shangani to Bulawayo and some areas in Matabeleland South and North provinces, and the construction of a pipeline from Zambezi river to Gwayi-Shangani dam.
According to the plan, a green belt which is 30km wide on either side of the 450km pipeline will be created and will see more than five million hectares being put under irrigation.
The idea to build a pipeline from the Zambezi river to Bulawayo was first mooted in 1912.
When complete, the water project will bring to an end Bulawayo's water challenges while creating a green irrigation belt in the region.
The project's Advisory Council Chairman, Mr Donald Khumalo expressed worry at the failure to do meaningful work but said they are in talks with the Ministry of Environment, Water and Climate to ensure work is done on the sites.
He also said it is pleasing to the council that the project has been given priority status in the country's economic blueprint, ZIMASSET, saying it will ensure resources are channeled towards it.
The project is expected to be done in three phases, starting with the construction of the Gwayi-Shangani dam, construction of a pipeline from Gwayi-Shangani to Bulawayo and some areas in Matabeleland South and North provinces, and the construction of a pipeline from Zambezi river to Gwayi-Shangani dam.
According to the plan, a green belt which is 30km wide on either side of the 450km pipeline will be created and will see more than five million hectares being put under irrigation.
The idea to build a pipeline from the Zambezi river to Bulawayo was first mooted in 1912.
Source - zbc
