News / National
Gwayi-Shangani dam put on hold, Ziminya dam enters the fray
18 Jun 2024 at 01:54hrs | Views
The construction of Ziminya Dam in Nkayi District, set to become Matabeleland North's second-largest water body after Lake Gwayi-Shangani, is making significant progress.
The excavation work for the 436-meter spillway has been completed, and the next phases are underway. The dam, located at Nkuba village, will channel excess water into the Shangani River during spillage events.
Ziminya Dam is one of twelve high-impact dam projects initiated by Zimbabwe's Second Republic, aiming to transform the drought-prone Nkayi area into an economic hub through various water-driven ventures. Local communities are already benefiting from the project through employment opportunities, particularly for Nkuba villagers involved in the construction.
Once completed, the dam will support extensive irrigation projects, provide purified water to Nkayi Business Centre, and feature a 1MW power station feeding into the national grid. The construction has involved complex engineering work, including the excavation of competent rock necessary for the spillway's stability.
The project, which had been on hold since it was first pegged in 1952, gained momentum following financial commitments from President Mnangagwa's government. Local politicians, including Councillor Norman Ndebele, played a crucial role in lobbying for the dam's construction, which has now become a reality.
Some villagers will need to be relocated due to the dam's water pushback. Local businesses, like that of Nkuba villager Simon Mpofu, are also benefiting from the project, selling goods to construction workers. Officials from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development recently toured the site to review the progress.
The excavation work for the 436-meter spillway has been completed, and the next phases are underway. The dam, located at Nkuba village, will channel excess water into the Shangani River during spillage events.
Ziminya Dam is one of twelve high-impact dam projects initiated by Zimbabwe's Second Republic, aiming to transform the drought-prone Nkayi area into an economic hub through various water-driven ventures. Local communities are already benefiting from the project through employment opportunities, particularly for Nkuba villagers involved in the construction.
Once completed, the dam will support extensive irrigation projects, provide purified water to Nkayi Business Centre, and feature a 1MW power station feeding into the national grid. The construction has involved complex engineering work, including the excavation of competent rock necessary for the spillway's stability.
The project, which had been on hold since it was first pegged in 1952, gained momentum following financial commitments from President Mnangagwa's government. Local politicians, including Councillor Norman Ndebele, played a crucial role in lobbying for the dam's construction, which has now become a reality.
Some villagers will need to be relocated due to the dam's water pushback. Local businesses, like that of Nkuba villager Simon Mpofu, are also benefiting from the project, selling goods to construction workers. Officials from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development recently toured the site to review the progress.
Source - The Chronicle
