By Masiyephambili Weekly
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has instructed the Treasury to release USD5 million every month towards the construction of the Gwayi-Shangani Dam whose completion is expected to ease the water challenges affecting the City of Bulawayo.
The City of Bulawayo is currently experiencing perennial water challenges and the construction of the dam is part of the National Matabeleland Zambezi Water Project whose thrust is to bring water to Bulawayo.
The dam’s construction has stalled largely due to the erratic disbursement of funds by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development to the contractor.
The Central Government is the sole financier of the construction of the Gwayi Shangani Dam with the completion of the dam missing several deadlines. Deputy Chief Secretary in Charge of Presidential Communications, George Charamba revealed the Presidential instruction on his social media account X on Tuesday.
“President ED Mnangagwa has ordered the Finance Ministry to ensure a monthly disbursement of USD 5million towards the completion of the stalled Gwayi-Shangani Dam. So far USD10 million has been released, ensuring some four metres of the all-concrete wall are done,” said Charamba.
The dam wall construction is 70 percent complete and US$5 million is required per month until the dam wallis completed.
The dam construction is just a portion of the projecas the programme will include the development of awater pipeline from the dam to the City.
Last week, the Special Advisor to the President on the Monitoring of Implementation of Government Programmes and Projects, Dr Joram Gumbo, visited Bulawayo where engineers from the Zimbabwe National Water Authority revealed that there was lack of progress on the construction of the dam due to lack of disbursement of funds.
Dr Gumbo, in a meeting held with Bulawayo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Honourable Judith Ncube, City of Bulawayo officials and Heads of Government departments, promised to plead with the President for the release of more funds towards the construction of the Gwayi Shangani Dam.
He said it was important to address the Bulawayo water crisis as access to water was a right.
Parliament has previously also lobbied the Government to release more funds towards the completion of the Gwayi Shangani Dam and bring to finality the long standing water challenges of Bulawayo.
While the City is experiencing water challenges, the Council’s Department of Water and Sanitation has devised several short, medium and long term strategies to mitigate against the water challenges.
Council is working closely with the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development to address some of the City’s water challenges.
In the July Council agenda, the Director of Water and Sanitation Engineer Sikhumbuzo M Ncube said part of the short term strategies, includes the rehabilitation of the uMzingwane dam booster pump station including a transformer upgrade to increase delivery of water from current 125ML/day to 175ML/day.
He said this will ensure improved potable water supply coverage in the city from the current target of 125ML/ day to a maximum 175ML/day.
Eng Ncube said Council was also working towards reducing the Non-Revenue Water losses while increasing the delivery of water from Nyamandlovu Aquifer.