by Derick Tsimba

Government efforts on ensuring Bulawayo water shortages are a thing of the past has covered ground in speeding up construction of Gwai-Shangani Dam.

Ministry of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services on its Twitter handle said the construction of the dam was progressing and would eventually ease water shortages in Bulawayo.

“The Construction of Gwai-Shangani dam is progressing well with footing now complete as well as the plunge pool. The project has created employment opportunities for the youth. The dam is expected to alleviate water shortages in Bulawayo, creating an irrigation greenbelt along the way,” said the Ministry.

Recently the Minister of Finance and Economic development, Mthuli Ncube in his 2020 National budget allocated $400 million Gwayi-Shangani Dam in Matabeleland North Province.

Minister Ncube also said, the budget was prioritising development of sustainable water sources in the context of climate change, which was causing a drought phenomenon.

 “The following projects have been prioritised in the 2020 budget: Gwayi Shangani Dam ZWL$400 million, Causeway Dam, ZWL$128 million, Chivhu Dam ZWL$192 million, Kunzwi dam ZWL$259 million, Semwa dam ZWL$216 million, other dams ZWL$205 million, water supply schemes ZWL$113 million and local authorities’ water and supply sanitation ZWL$311 million,” he said.

The Gwayi-Shangani Dam is a long-term solution for Bulawayo’s water shortages. When completed the Dam is going to be the third largest inland Dam in Zimbabwe after Tugwi-Mukosi and Mutirikwi.