Story by Josephine Mugiyo
THE Government has committed to availing US$5 million every month towards the completion of the Gwayi-Shangani Dam, in a move expected to accelerate progress on one of Zimbabwe’s largest water infrastructure projects.
The dam, located in Matabeleland North Province, is seen as a transformative development for Bulawayo and the wider Matabeleland region, with authorities projecting improved water security, expanded irrigation and industrial revival.
Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Development, Dr Anxious Masuka, said the funding model follows a directive from Emmerson Mnangagwa to prioritise the national project.
“The Gwayi-Shangani Dam is a national project requiring the attention and prioritisation of finance, and the President has directed that US$5 million or equivalent be availed consistently monthly until completion. Since that directive, we have seen much progress; we have moved from 39 metres of the wall to 43. We have seen work on the mini hydro. If we continue at this pace, we will be able to impound water in the 2026/27 summer cropping season. Overall, we are 74 percent complete. I just hope the Treasury will continue to provide the money as directed. This project is key as it will irrigate 10,000 hectares,” he said.
Assistant Resident Engineer Tinevimbo Musingarime said works are ongoing despite seasonal rainfall disruptions.
“Because it is the rainy season, we are doing other work around the dam as we wait for the rains to stop so that we can continue with concrete pouring at the wall. So now, among the works we are doing is the construction of the mini hydro power plant. We had to ensure that work does not stop, and so we are working,” he said.
The dam is being constructed using roller-compacted concrete technology, which is designed to speed up the building process.
Once complete, the project is expected to establish a green belt along the pipeline to Bulawayo, also known as the City of Kings and provide reliable water supplies to revive industries that have faced prolonged shortages.
President Mnangagwa has previously underscored the importance of climate-proofing agriculture under the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2).
“Riding on the unprecedented gains in agriculture, the NDS2 will see us ring-fence our national food and nutrition security. We foresee this to be achieved through increased productivity and enhanced climate resilience. The need to climate-proof our agriculture, establish sustainable irrigation, along with integrated land and water management, will result in these areas,” he said.
First mooted in 1912, the Gwayi-Shangani Dam project is now 74 percent complete, with hopes high that consistent funding will ensure its timely delivery and unlock long-term socio-economic benefits for the region.
