Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) Bubi-Lupane Dam resident engineer, Paul Dengu told NewsDay that construction, which had stalled due to lack of funds, resumed last Thursday.
“With the contractors back on site, we are expecting that the dam wall will be complete in
November this year. We also need to complete the spillway which is something that we are hoping can be done at the same time with the dam wall,” Dengu said.
The project is being constructed by Multi-force contractors and a sub-contractor from China.
There had initially been an uproar when villagers and schools situated near the dam resisted calls by the government to relocate from the area.
“Government compensated the villagers for ordering them to vacate the area and most of them have since left,” he said.
“However, there are two schools, Madotshwa and Mpofu primary schools, that have to be shifted as well.”
Currently, the dam holds 17 million cubic metres of water, but when full its capacity is 40 million cubic metres.
Dengu, however, said once all work has been done, there would be need for a water treatment plant to be set up to purify the precious liquid before it reaches the residents.“Treatment works will have to be carried out once we are through with the dam and we are already lobbying the Finance minister for the funding for treatment works to be done,” he said.
He said $1, 5 million would be needed for the treatment plant.
Currently, Lupane service centre uses borehole water, but this has proven to be inadequate.
Lupane was three years ago accorded urban status and has been seeking industrial and commercial investors interested in setting up shop in various economic activities at the growth point.
It is also the provincial capital of Matabeleland North province.
The Bubi-Lupane dam is meant to ease water woes in the growing town.