Bulawayo’s $99M Glass Block Dam project nears agreement stage

Bulawayo Mayor David Coltart has confirmed that the city is on the brink of signing crucial agreements for the construction of the Glass Block Dam, a key project aimed at alleviating Bulawayo’s ongoing water crisis.
The Glass Block Dam, proposed to be built on the Mzingwane River, will have a capacity of 14 million cubic metres of water and has been identified as a medium-term solution to the city’s water shortages.
The dam has become the city council’s top priority as part of a broader strategy to secure a reliable water supply for Bulawayo in the coming years.
The project has involved extensive discussions between the city council, the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, and a specialised government Technical Committee established last year. This committee was tasked with developing short, medium, and long-term water strategies for Bulawayo.
During a meeting on March 7, 2024, with Minister of Local Government and Public Works Winston Chitando, the Council indicated plans to complete the Glass Block Dam project by 2027.
According to the Council, the dam is expected to increase water inflows to Bulawayo by 70 percent. This will require a 32-kilometer pipeline to pump water from the dam to Ncema, whose pumping system also needs rehabilitation.
Speaking at the Ward 22 state of the ward meeting in Nkulumane yesterday, Mayor Coltart explained that the idea for the Glass Block Dam dates back to the 1990s.
“I met George Mlilo, who was the City Engineer in the 1990s, in November. He told me that when he was the engineer in the early 1990s, they had proposed building the Glass Block Dam, but it was never constructed. That’s exactly what we’re focused on now. In early December, I attended the African Development Bank meeting in Morocco, where we had a very constructive meeting about raising the US$99 million needed to build the Glass Block Dam,” said Coltart.
“We are very close to signing the agreements necessary for building both the Glass Block Dam and the 32-kilometer pipeline from Glass Block to Ncema pump station,” he added.
While acknowledging that the Glass Block Dam will take time to complete, Coltart assured residents it will significantly improve the city’s water situation in the long term.
“Construction will take two years, so we all need to be patient. We have a plan and are working to implement what should have been done in the 1990s,” he said.
While the Gwayi-Shangani project remains part of the city’s long-term water solution, Coltart emphasized that Glass Block is more cost-effective and quicker to build.
“Gwayi-Shangani is long-term, located 257 kilometers from Bulawayo. Moving that pipeline requires substantial funding. The Glass Block Dam and its pipeline cost significantly less, which is why we’re prioritizing this project,” he explained.
Coltart added that they are working closely with the Government, which has promised funding to upgrade existing systems.
While acknowledging the challenges posed by the current water crisis, Coltart reassured residents that the city is actively working on solutions.
“I can’t stand here this afternoon and promise any of you that we can solve this tomorrow, next week, or next month. We face a major water crisis, but I want to encourage you that we have a plan. We are working hard with international institutions to build the Glass Block Dam and rehabilitate the pipelines. However, it will take at least two years, so we need your patience,” he said.
Despite recent rainfall, Coltart said the city cannot rely solely on current water levels in existing dams.
“While continued rain this season will improve our existing dam levels, we can’t depend on that alone. As a city, we can’t abandon the Glass Block Dam project just because it’s raining. We must plan for the future, and recent years have shown us that existing dams are insufficient for our city. Water remains our number one priority,” Coltart concluded.