A Z$77.3 billion budget for irrigation and drinking water projects in 2023 has been approved by the Zimbabwean parliament. The budget would allow the Southern African country’s government to finance the construction of several dams.
The primary objective is to alleviate the country of East Africa’s chronic water shortage.
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New infrastructure for irrigation and fisheries will be built using Z$ 55.3 billion of the funding. When there is a drought, modern techniques will be employed to promote water conservation.
Twelve dam projects in Zimbabwe will receive the remaining Z$22 billion in financing.
Where will the biggest chunk of funding meant for irrigation and drinking water projects be poured?
The Gwayi Shangani dam project, which is ongoing in the province of Matabeleland North, would receive the largest chunk of the financing. This will total Z$ 6.2 billion. The dam is being built by the China International Water and Electric Corporation (CWE). The water will be channeled from the dam to Bulawayo.
It will also be followed by the Z$2.8 billion Semwa Dam project in the Mashonaland Central Province, which will hold 260 million m3 of water. This is according to Mthuli Ncube, Zimbabwe’s finance and economic development minister. A minimum of Z$ 2.7 billion will also be invested in the pipeline project to transport raw water from the Gwayi-Shangani dam to the town of Bulawayo. The dam is situated 260 kilometers away.
Additionally, Z$1.7 billion will also be provided for the 33 million m3 Tuli Manyange Dam project in Matabeleland South in 2023.
Z$1.1 billion will be allocated to the 650 million m3 Ziminya Dam in Zimbabwe’s Matabeleland North province. In Mashonaland East Province, the Muchekeranwa Dam (75 million m3) will receive Z$600 million. Also, the Defe Dam will receive Z$ 1 million.
Mashonaland Central province’s Dande (160 million m3), Guruve, and Mbada dam projects will each receive Z$600 million. The Bindura Dam, which will have a 100 million m3 storage capacity in Mashonaland Central, will also be constructed for Z$ 400 million.
