Kunzvi Dam Nears Completion as Zimbabwe Boosts Harare Water Security
By Southerton Business Times Reporter | GOROMONZI
Construction of the US$133 million Kunzvi Dam is gathering momentum, with the flagship water infrastructure project expected to significantly improve Harare's water supply, expand irrigation, support renewable energy generation and stimulate economic development in Goromonzi District.
Situated about 14 kilometres south of Juru Growth Point on the Nyagwe River, the dam is being developed by Makomo Engineering under the supervision of the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) and is owned by the Government of Zimbabwe.
Speaking during a media tour of the project, Assistant Resident Engineer John Tangayi said Kunzvi Dam will become one of Zimbabwe's largest inland reservoirs once completed.
"The dam will have a storage capacity of 158.4 million cubic metres of water, making it one of the country's major inland reservoirs," Tangayi said.
He said the reservoir is expected to deliver a dependable annual water yield of about 70 million cubic metres, providing a reliable supply even during periods of below-average rainfall.
Kunzvi Dam forms part of the Government's long-term strategy to address chronic water shortages affecting Harare, Chitungwiza, Ruwa, Goromonzi and surrounding communities, where demand has continued to outpace supply due to rapid urbanisation and ageing infrastructure. The project, which commenced on 14 October 2001, was initially budgeted at US$108.2 million. However, costs have risen to approximately US$133 million following the inclusion of a comprehensive resettlement programme for displaced families and the relocation of graves that will be submerged by the reservoir.
According to Tangayi, the completed dam wall will stand 50.2 metres high, while the reservoir will reach a maximum depth of 45 metres, covering approximately 985 hectares and extending about 8.5 kilometres upstream across a 730-square-kilometre catchment area. Beyond the main dam wall, the project includes a 130-metre reinforced concrete spillway, outlet works with a concrete intake tower linked to 1,000-millimetre steel pipelines, and a balancing dam on the Nora River, where construction is already underway.
Tangayi said engineers are finalising designs for a mini hydroelectric power station, which will generate renewable electricity from the dam. The project also includes tarring the 14-kilometre Njiru-Kunzvi access road, improving transport links for nearby communities and businesses. Once operational, Kunzvi Dam will support a 500-hectare irrigation scheme, provide treated water to Musami Mission, Juru, Goromonzi and neighbouring settlements, and establish village business units aimed at boosting rural livelihoods.
Government has adopted a new resettlement model under which affected families receive newly constructed homes instead of cash compensation.
"Under this project, Government is constructing replacement homes for affected families to ensure a smoother and more sustainable resettlement process," Tangayi said.
Of the planned 435 replacement houses, 268 have been completed, while 90 residential stands were allocated this week for further construction.
Government has also allocated US$500,000 for the exhumation and reburial of 534 graves following requests from traditional leaders.
"The chiefs here said they did not want the graves to be inundated by the dam. They requested that they be exhumed and reburied," Tangayi said.
Water experts have consistently identified new bulk water infrastructure as essential to improving climate resilience, strengthening food security and meeting Zimbabwe's growing urban water demand. Once complete, Kunzvi Dam is expected to become a key pillar of the country's long-term water security strategy.
Kunzvi Dam
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