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Joseph Madzimure Senior Reporter
THE construction of Causeway Dam, which is located 30km outside Marondera, is on course for commissioning before the end of this year, with nearly 90 percent of work already completed.

The US$5 million dam, which is being constructed along Macheke River, is also expected to provide water to Marondera University of Agricultural Science and Technology and neighbouring farms.

Causeway Dam will provide water to an irrigation scheme earmarked for local farmers and villagers who were moved to pave way for its construction a few years back.

The villagers were resettled on land in the vicinity of the dam.

Mashonaland East Provincial Affairs Minister Cde Apollonia Munzverengi said: “The handover ceremony of the Causeway Dam is obviously this year since the superstructure is complete.

“What is being finalised is the dam wall with its construction underway, but it’s almost done. The contractors have already reached water levels with 90 percent of the construction covered so far.

“The construction was delayed by the Covid-19 global pandemic, but Zimbabwe National Water Authority engineers are on site finalising the project. We hope by December, the project will be complete.”

Minister Munzverengi said plans were underway to engage President Mnangagwa to commission the project before year-end, while the engineers were finalising work.

The dam wall had been delayed to pave way for the relocation of about 53 families that were in the catchment of the dam.

The Ministry of Local Government and Public Works has since availed funds for their relocation and the exercise was done in earnest.

The Government released $2,7 million to relocate the families that were affected by construction of the dam.

Minister Munzverengi said the move to settle the affected families near the dam was prompted by the idea that they had to benefit from the water source through irrigation schemes.

The dam projects are among other Government-funded dam projects that include the long-awaited Kunzvi Dam located north of Harare, Mutange in Gokwe, Gwayi-Shangani in Matabeleland North, Chivhu Dam in Mashonaland East and Marovanyanga Dam in Buhera, Manicaland.

Two weeks ago, President Mnangagwa commissioned a 32.2km of the completed stretches of the Harare-Masvingo-Beitbridge Highway under Phase One of the rehabilitation, upgrading and widening project.

President Mnangagwa said infrastructure development was a key driver for progress and a critical enabler for productivity and sustainable development.

Investment infrastructure accounts for over half of the recent improvement in economic growth in Africa and has potential to usher in a number of benefits to countries and their citizens.