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Lawrence Chitumba Herald Correspondent
CONSTRUCTION of the $141 million Semwa Dam across Ruya River, which borders Mt Darwin and Rushinga districts, has resumed after Treasury allocated $20 million for the project in the 2019 Budget.

Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement Minister Perrance Shiri visited the construction site last week. On completion, the dam will irrigate over 12 000 hectares.

“The dam has immense potential to bring socio-economic transformation in Mashonaland Central in the areas of food security, poverty alleviation, employment creation and steady water supply for Rushinga and Chimhanda,” said Minister Shiri.

He said money allocated in the Budget will cover substantial ground.

“Semwa Dam, which is being constructed across Ruya River, which borders Mt Darwin and Rushinga districts, is expected to cost $141 million and the project was allocated $20 million in the 2019 Budget which will help cover substantial ground,” said Minister Shiri.

“The dam is expected to provide irrigation water for more than 12 000 hectares in the two districts and has the capacity to generate hydro-electric power to be fed into the national grid.”

Construction would be completed by 2021. Minister Shiri said his ministry was working on a broader master plan to enable the immediate utilisation of water from the dam.

He said Government had already allocated $2,5 million for feasibility studies and a master plan.

Minister Shiri said Semwa Dam was among major projects his ministry was undertaking across the country.

These include Marovanyati Dam in Buhera, Gwayi-Shangani Dam, Tuli-Manyange Dam in Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South.