The Sunday Mail
Online Reporter
GOVERNMENT has accelerated the construction of the Gwayi-Shangani lake, which it said will start collecting water this month, with 20 million cubic metres expected by April next year.
The lake is expected to end Bulawayo’s perennial water problems and turn the Matabeleland region into an irrigation greenbelt.
The project, which was mooted in 1912, is seen as the panacea to water problems facing Bulawayo and its surrounding areas.
Government, under the Second Republic, is keen to see its completion before year-end.
The Gwayi-Shangani Lake will be the largest water body in Matabeleland North province, with a holding capacity of 635 million cubic metres of water.
On completion, the lake will bring about socio-economic transformation for surrounding communities.
The dam, which is on the confluence of the Gwayi and Shangani rivers, will also have the capacity to generate six megawatts of electricity.
In a statement, the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) said the lake is expected to start impounding water this season, and will reach 20 million cubic metres by April 2022.
“The Government of Zimbabwe has accelerated the projects on water supply to Bulawayo. and integrated this into the new approach to water infrastructure development whose components are, Lake Gwayi Shangani, drinking water supply to Bulawayo through the construction of a 251 kilometres pipeline and supplying water to surrounding areas including Dete schools, clinics and Rural Service Centres,” read the statement.
“Irrigation development around Gwayi-Shangani and at six irrigation and rural development nodes along the Gwayi-Shangani pipeline. Electricity generation and five fisheries by the end of the year. The lake is expected to start impounding water this season up to 20 million cubic metres by April 2022.”
Zinwa said there will be no displacement of villagers during the current wet season, but the supply of water to Bulawayo and surrounding communities is planned for the end of 2022.
“All other project components are proceeding as planned, with the pipeline to Bulawayo and associated water treatment works expected to be functional by the end of 2022,” Zinwa said.
Government has selected six contractors to urgently work on the pipeline that connects the massive Lake Gwayi-Shangani to Bulawayo.
The 650 million cubic metres water body is being constructed in the Hwange District and is expected to be complete next month, with the pipeline deadline set for December 2022.
Having been a pipe dream since 1912, the project is one of the many infrastructural development priorities being aggressively spearheaded by the Second Republic, whose completion is viewed as a transformative milestone for the whole region.
