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Walter Nyamukondiwa Kariba Bureau

Completion of the Kariba water augmentation project involving construction of a 200-metre pipe into Lake Kariba to help draw water during the dry season has been delayed following the expiry of expatriate engineers’ permits.

The US$535 000 project funded by the Climate Resilient Infrastructure Development Facility (CRIDF) is aimed at ameliorating the shocks of climate change which has contributed to water challenges in Kariba town.

Kariba municipality has been failing to draw enough water to supply the town during the dry season as water levels recede causing the clogging of the Breezes in-take point.

Owing to waves in the lake, sand is pushed by water into the in-let points rendering it impossible to draw water for treatment.

This has resulted in Kariba municipality incurring costs to hire excavators used in scooping out the sand which makes abstraction of water difficult.

As the dry season continues, the last penstock would be completely covered resulting in failure to draw water for treatment.

Acting Kariba municipality town clerk Mr Evans Chinyama said the project was nearing completion but faced some delays as authorities are processing work permits for three engineers.

“This is a project, which started in March and we hoped to complete it by the end of the year,” he said.

“However, we have demobilised after the work permits of engineers working on the project expired. We have started the process of having the permits renewed so that work can resume.”

The project includes laying of the pipe into the lake to feed Breezes water intake and installation of more pumps.

It also includes upgrading of pipes to Heights, Camphill and Hospital Hill among others.

“We have been hiring excavators during this time of the year and this time is not different as we struggle to draw water for treatment at Breezes In-take. That is unsustainable owing to the high costs involved in hiring equipment to clear the sand that accumulates at the in-let point,” said Mr Chinyama.