原新闻链接：https://www.herald.co.zw/quality-control-top-priority-at-semwa-dam/

Construction of the Government-funded Semwa Dam along Ruya River and on the boundary of Rushinga and Mt Darwin will mainly benefit the fast growing Rushinga Township.

Fungai Lupande Mashonaland Central Bureau

The contractor of Semwa Dam in Mt Darwin East, Makomo Engineering, has completed the construction of a laboratory to test all the material being used in the dam, since quality control is the top priority in dam construction.

Semwa Dam is being constructed using the roller compacted concrete (RCC) technology, a new concept in the country.

It is the second to use this concept after Lake Gwayi Shangani in Matabeleland North Province.

The technology involves concrete being dumped by tippers on the dam, spread by dozers and compacted by rollers.

On completion, Semwa Dam will be the fourth largest dam in the country after Tugwi Mukosi, Lake Mutirikwi formerly Kyle Dam and Lake Gwayi Shangani.

Initially, the Semwa Dam plan was similar to Tugwi Mukosi but due to the type of rocks, the contractor turned to the new technology.

Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) resident site engineer, Elliot Makombe, said a team of local and international designers advised them to dig deeper on the river banks by nine metres to enable the dam to hold massive concrete.

Semwa Dam’s catchment area is 4 500 square kilometres, six metres deep.

Over 500 000 million cubic of concrete will be used during the construction.

To this end, the contractor has invested in a 500m3 concrete stone crushing plant, and installed a twin 240m3 batch plant per hour.

The estimated cost of the dam is US$386 million.

A permanent bridge shall be constructed over the dam to connect Dotito and Rushinga.

Eng Makombe: “Those who want to go to Karanda Hospital will be able to do so all year round.

“The dam is earmarked to supply irrigation water to various schemes and we have already identified two upstream; one in Mt Darwin and another in Rushinga, totalling 2 500 hectares.

“Another 1 500 hectares will be developed downstream in Rushinga and 500 hectares in the Pfunyanguwo, Chizeza area in Mt Darwin. This work is running concurrently with dam construction.”

This year, Treasury allocated $2,8 billion towards the project and payments are being done fairly, said Eng Makombe.

Minister of State for Presidential Affairs and monitoring the implementation of Government Programmes, Dr Joram Gumbo, expressed satisfaction with the quality of work at the dam.

“Experts working at this dam know what they are doing and they are dedicated to this work. This dam is going to improve the livelihoods of people in the two districts, Mt Darwin and Rushinga,” he said.

“My office has a keen interest in the expeditious implementation of Government projects as mandated by the President. Our economy is largely agriculture-based and water infrastructure development is the broader economic vision of climate-proofing our agriculture.

“Construction works on ongoing dam projects have been accelerated while inspections are being done to assess the risks to public safety, the extent of water losses and siltation.”

Dr Gumbo said construction of dams was one of the key milestones under the Second Republic, with several dams already commissioned or under construction.

Dam construction is part of a long-term plan to support smallholder irrigation and boost food and agricultural production.

The water would be harnessed for industrial and domestic use in towns, cities and growth points.

Added Dr Gumbo: “This is an indication of the commitment by the Second Republic to develop rural communities so that no one and no place is left behind.

“Construction of Semwa Dam begun in 2013 but progress was stalled in 2015. Work resumed and progress is now 32 percent.

“With climate change taking its toll in communities like Rushinga which rely on rain fed agriculture, it is critical for the Government to prioritise water provision.”

Dr Gumbo said it was regrettable that for a long time, communities such as Rushinga had been without water close to their homes.

This impacted negatively on women and young girls who travelled long distances in search of water.

Semwa Dam will not only provide portable water or irrigation schemes but will also see the implementation of projects like apiculture, aquaculture and recreational facilities.

The construction works have so far seen 100 workers being employed, with 70 of them drawn from surrounding villages.

At the peak of construction, 500 more job opportunities would be available to locals.

Mr Emmanuel Mazhanga from Nyandoro Village said: “My father was employed here and he managed to send us to school before construction work stopped.

“In 2018, I was employed at the dam, working with the Chinese (and) I have gained a lot of experience.

“I am now married and I can take care of my family and parents. I operate the concrete stone crusher but we rotate on various works. This has exposed me to new technology and skills.”

Ms Magret Chidzuro from Ward 17 said they used to wake up around 2am to queue for water at boreholes, nearly 10km away.

“We would do the same travelling to faraway places looking for vegetables for resale.

“This lessened quality family time, causing domestic violence and failure to have more children,” she said.

“We are looking forward to starting vibrant horticulture gardens so that we can help our husbands in household economics.”

Rushinga legislator Cde Tendai Nyabani said the dam has united Mt Darwin and Rushinga.

“This is the largest dam in the province and the fourth countrywide. Our fields will be evergreen and we will become food self-sufficient, implement fisheries and enjoy boat cruises,” he said.

Rushinga Rural District Council chairperson Mr Spencer Chiwarange said people and animals had been clamouring for water.

This resulted in the death of livestock, he said.

“Our youths will be organised into clusters and start projects in aquaculture and apiculture.

“Currently, they survive on manual jobs but this dam can uplift the livelihoods of people in the two districts,” he said.

Chief Rusambo stressed the importance of traditional rites at the start of such big projects to ensure that ancestral spirits were appeased.