450 families, 17 graves relocated for Kunzvi Dam c...

450 families, 17 graves relocated for Kunzvi Dam construction

Oscar J Jeke

Families of 450 households affected by the construction of Kunzvi Dam in Goromonzi, together with 17 graves, are set to be relocated with the land and compensation packages already in place.

The dam, largely considered as the solution to the City of Harare’s water woes, is at 48% of completion.

Kunzvi Dam is set to supply water to the capital and irrigation schemes in surrounding areas, including the Goromonzi business district.

During a recent tour of the dam construction works earlier this year, Minister of State for Mashonaland East, Apolonia Munzverengwi, commended the progress done on construction works, which started last year, adding that they are in the process of relocating families affected at an identified farm for resettlement.

“Today, we are at the Kunzvi Dam construction site on a tour of this national project in the province. Construction of the dam started last year and there is so much progress as we have witnessed. There are a few issues that we need to deal with as a province and that includes the relocation of those families who are in the dam’s catchment. In the next 30 days, we are going to make sure we relocate 34 families.

“I have assigned our lands officer and provincial irrigation technician to that. We have already identified a farm for that. Looking at this dam construction process, there is a need for the workers to do blasting but they cannot do that because there are still people within the radius. Those people will be affected by the blasts.

“I am told by the resident engineer that they should be done with dam construction by December this year. As a province, we have our Growth Points and I am happy they are going to build a treatment plant and business centres like Juru and Mwanza among others will benefit from the portable water that will come from this dam,” the Minister said.

Zimbabwe National Water Authority head of corporate communications and marketing, Marjorie Munyonga said that the dam is at 48% completion and will supply irrigation and domestic water for surrounding communities and Harare, with the affected families set to be relocated and compensated according to government policy.

“Construction of Kunzvi Dam in Mashonaland East is already underway with the Dam now 48% complete. The dam will provide irrigation and domestic water for surrounding communities as well as water for the City of Harare.

“As with any development of this scale, there are families that have been affected by the project. The total number of households set to be affected is 450 and land has since been identified for the reorganisation of these households who are set to benefit from the water from Kunzvi Dam.

“A total of 17 graves are also set to be relocated as a result of the ongoing project,” Munyonga said.

She also added that to avoid the recurrence of the Tugwe-Mukosi incident, arms of government have evaluated compensation according to government policy.

“Relevant arms and agencies of government are working on the evaluation and reorganisation of the households that are paving way for the dam. The affected households are to be compensated in line with government policy related to the exercise,” she added.

Resident Engineer, Emmanuel Murenzva, who was present at the tour of the dam, said the progress is notable, while revealing that works on the laying of the pipeline and building of the treatment plant are underway.

“At the moment, we are actually in the mobilisation stage for the water treatment plant. However, we had already started excavation of the area. A total of 10 km of the 21km pipeline from the treatment plant site to the booster station site has been cleared.

“The project aims at enhancing water supply to the city of Harare, significantly improving access to potable water, particularly in areas like Donny Brooke, Mabvuku-Tafara, Greendale and Msasa. This improvement will enhance production and impact positively on the economy of the country. The treatment plant has a capacity of treating 1000m3 per hour,” said Eng Madondo.