The Government of Zimbabwe has released US$101.74 million this year to accelerate the completion of the Gwayi-Shangani and Kunzvi Dam projects, two flagship infrastructure developments expected to permanently resolve water shortages in Bulawayo and Harare.
Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube confirmed the funding, saying both projects have made significant headway under the government’s infrastructure development programme.
According to Treasury data, Gwayi-Shangani Dam is now 72.4% complete, while Kunzvi Dam stands at 65%. The allocations were broken down as follows: US$25.3 million for Gwayi-Shangani Dam construction, US$2.39 million for the Gwayi-Shangani-Bulawayo pipeline, US$73.56 million for Kunzvi Dam construction, and US$0.5 million for its associated pipeline.
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“These two dams are critical to improving water security in our major urban centres and supporting irrigation and power generation initiatives,” said Prof. Ncube.
The Gwayi-Shangani–Bulawayo Water Project includes a 252-kilometre pipeline to deliver water to Bulawayo, a 10-megawatt mini-hydropower plant, and a 220-megalitre-per-day treatment facility. The project will also irrigate 10,000 hectares of farmland along the pipeline route, contributing to agricultural productivity in Matabeleland North.
At Kunzvi Dam, which will serve Harare and surrounding growth points including Juru, Cross Musami, and Majuru, the project is expected to support irrigation for 500 hectares of farmland.
Construction progress at Gwayi-Shangani has seen the dam wall rise to 45 metres on the left bank and 39 metres on the right and spillway sections, while Kunzvi Dam has reached 95% excavation, 65% embankment formation, and 60% concrete works.
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