Semwa Dam construction boosts water security in Mashonaland Central

Semwa Dam construction boosts water security in Mashonaland Central

Story by Josephine Mugiyo, Diplomatic CorrespondentTHE construction of Semwa Dam in Mashonaland Central Province is progressing well, with communities hopeful that the fast-paced works since the Second Republic undertook to fund the project will ensure completion of the facility by 2028.With the area often ravaged by drought, low rainfall and high temperatures have frequently compromised harvests for local communities.The Ruya River, currently extremely dry, reflects the challenges faced by communities in both Rushinga and Mt Darwin.The boreholes in the area are also affected by a low water table. Hope is on the construction of Semwa Dam whose idea was first mooted in the early 2000.Tizai Mangoromera, a villager, says he remembers so much talk about the dam project, but says work only begun around 2017.“Since 2005, we were told that there would be a dam to be constructed.  But nothing much was happening, it was all talk.  In 2017 that is when we started seeing work being done,” a Mt Darwin villager, Mr Tizai Mangoromera said.Ms Senia Katwerekweti is also hopeful that construction of Semwa Dam will bring them much relief.She expresses her wish for the contractor to speed up the works.“I wish they could increase the speed because we really need the water.”At the construction site, work is ongoing at the dam, which is located on Ruya River in the Masosona communal area.It is situated between Maname mountain in Rushinga and Kungo mountain in Mt Darwin.The dam whose wall will be 72 meters high will have the capacity to irrigate 12 000 hectares of land in the two districts.The assistant resident engineer, Francis Dzenga says construction works are progressing well.“This dam will be able to contain 260 000 mega litres of water. Apart from supplying portable water, the dam will be able to irrigate both upstream and downstream,” Engineer Dzenga said.The project is being funded by government and implemented by Makomo Resources, as the main contractor, employing 280 employees.This has seen a positive impact on the livelihoods of the locals.As efforts to ensure food security, the Second Republic has put in place measures, which include dam construction to ensure communities in dry areas, are not forced to rely on rain-fed agriculture.

Story by Josephine Mugiyo, Diplomatic Correspondent

Source: ZBC News