Source: Tokwe-Mukosi Dam to be used in Sept – Sunday News August 21, 2016

Walter Mswazie in Masvingo
THE harnessed water in Tokwe-Mukosi Dam under construction in Masvingo will be ready for use as early as September since most of the work will be complete, an official has said.

The dam project which has capacity volume of 1,8 billion cubic metres is now about 96 percent complete. Upon its completion the dam will see bout 25 000 hectares of land put under irrigation.

Chivi Rural District Council and Masvingo Rural District Councils are already working on a $350 000 master plan while Government has already engaged Tongaat Hullet to assist in the crafting of irrigation development plan ahead of the dam project completion slated for December.

Responding to the Masvingo Provincial Administrator Mr Felix Chikovo who wanted clarity on the progress on the dam project during a provincial development committee meeting in Masvingo last week, Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) Masvingo area manager Mr Johannes Juma said there was water which was held in the upper stream of the dam and it will be ready for use after the completion of concrete work next month.

“Contractors will complete all concrete work including the dam wall at the end of September according to expectations, after which the dam can be allowed to harness water. The minor works can continue while the dam captures water which will be ready for use,” said Mr Juma.

Mr Juma also said plans were underway to construct another dam, bigger than Tokwe-Mukosi in Mwenezi district to cater for the ambitious ethanol project to be constructed in Chingwizi area.

Bio Fuels director, Mr Billy Rautenbach recently got a nod from Government to set up an ethanol plant at Nuanetsi Ranch in Chingwizi which will see 60 000 hectares of land put under sugarcane.

“The province is set to have another dam which will be bigger than Tokwe-Mukosi in the event that an ethanol plant is established in Nuanetsi Ranch, Chingwizi. The project will see 60 000 hectares of land being put under sugarcane and there will be need of more water. Tokwe-Mukosi has the capacity to irrigate 25 000 hectares only,” he said.

He said the four dams identified for the ambitious project comprise Lundi, Tende, Dihune and Munaki.