Matabeleland North Provincial Affairs and Devolution minister, Richard Moyo, has appealed to Treasury to urgently disburse funds for the Gwayi-Shangani Dam project to ensure that its competition deadline is not postponed again for the umpteenth time.
Several deadlines have been since the project, which is a seen as a long lasting solution to Bulawayo’s water woes, was first mooted in 1912 by the colonial government.
Moyo said Bulawayo residents and the greater Matabeleland region have waited for far too long for the project to come to life.
“Gwayi-Shangani Dam project, we are waiting for the disbursement of the 2025 budget, and then we see how we can push,” he said.
“Maybe this year we can start pounding water because people have waited too long for this project.”
Moyo was adamant that another postponement was not an option.
“Postponement is not an option,” he said.
“Even if the wall is not finished, there will be water this year.”
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The Gwayi-Shangani Dam, a major component of the long-awaited National Matabeleland Zambezi Water Project, has faced multiple setbacks since its inception in 2017.
Initially set for completion in December 2023, the project was pushed to the first quarter of 2024 due to resource constraints.
By October 2024, the dam wall had reached 70.2% completion, with 39 metres of the planned 72-metre structure built.
At the time, the Zimbabwe National Water Authority indicated that an additional US$48 million was required to finalise construction, with a need for consistent monthly disbursements of US$4 million.
The completion deadline has been pushed to December this year.
The 2025 national budget allocated ZiG1 billion to the project, with ZiG700 million directed toward dam construction and ZiG282 million earmarked for the pipeline linking the dam to Bulawayo.
Once completed, the Gwayi-Shangani Dam is expected to significantly alleviate Bulawayo’s water shortages.
The project includes a 252-kilometrepipeline to Bulawayo and a 122-kilometre pipeline from the Zambezi River.
It is also designed to support irrigation on up to 10,000 hectares of farmland and facilitate fish farming.
Additionally, the dam will host a 10MW hydroelectric power station to boost energy supply in the region.
Authorities say the dam is a key part of broader efforts to enhance water security and drive economic development in Matabeleland.
Despite the financial hurdles, Moyo remains confident that the government will push the project forward.
“The dam is a priority, and we will make sure water reaches Bulawayo and surrounding areas,” he said.
