Gwayi-Shangani Dam Enters 24-Hour Construction Phase as Zimbabwe Pushes for 2025 Completion
The long-delayed Gwayi-Shangani Dam project has entered a critical 24-hour construction phase following a directive by President Emmerson Mnangagwa for Treasury to disburse US$5 million monthly toward its completion. Now 72% complete, the massive infrastructure project is a central pillar of the National Matabeleland Zambezi Water Project and is poised to end Bulawayo’s decades-long water crisis while driving economic transformation in Matabeleland North.
The renewed momentum was confirmed during a recent site inspection attended by government officials and members of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Resettlement. The dam, which broke ground in 2017, has been plagued by funding inconsistencies that have delayed progress for years. However, with the latest financial commitment, construction crews are now working around the clock to raise the dam wall from its current 39 metres to the targeted 72 metres.
Engineer Takudza Makwangudze, Director of Engineering and Hydrological Services at the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA), said that the project is finally moving at pace thanks to the release of US$10 million from Treasury. “So far, US$10 million has been released. That has enabled us to construct four metres of the wall. If we receive US$4 million consistently every month, we can raise two metres of the wall monthly,” he said.
An additional US$48 million is still needed to complete the dam by the end of 2025, with the total project cost—including hydroelectric power generation and pumping infrastructure—estimated at US$84 million. Makwangudze stressed the importance of sustained funding, noting that any disruption could once again derail progress. “We need uninterrupted financial support to meet our completion targets,” he said.
Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee, Felix Maburutse, assured stakeholders of parliamentary support to keep funding on track. “We will lobby Treasury to ensure the required amounts are disbursed timely. This is not just a dam—it’s a strategic national asset,” Maburutse said.
Once completed, the Gwayi-Shangani Dam is expected to supply water to Bulawayo and serve communities along the 252-kilometre pipeline route, including Hwange, Lupane, and Binga. The project will also enable year-round irrigation, promote rural industrialisation, and generate hydroelectric power to support local electricity needs.
Lake Gwayi-Shangani, formed by the dam, will become Zimbabwe’s third-largest inland water body after Lake Kariba and Lake Mutirikwi. It is set to play a transformative role in alleviating water stress and unlocking agricultural and economic opportunities across the Matabeleland region.
With 24-hour construction now underway and strong political will behind it, the Gwayi-Shangani Dam project is finally inching closer to realising its long-promised impact for the people of Zimbabwe.
