Kunzvi Dam Project Spurs Development, Community Reorganization and Economic Opportunities

By Edward Makuzva

Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Minister Dr. Anxious Masuka says the Government is accelerating progress on the Kunzvi Dam project, which has reached 65 percent completion, as part of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s directive to prioritize the swift completion of two key dams, Kunzvi and Gwayi-Shangani.

Speaking during a routine technical and operational visit to assess progress, Dr. Masuka added that work on the various dam components was well on course, with communities already reorganized to pave the way for water harvesting this season.

“The project is at 65 percent complete, and they are in full course to pound water this season.

That has necessitated the urgent relocation of people on the spillway.

Unlike in the past, these families are being reorganized within their own communities by traditional leaders, ensuring they remain connected to their roots”, Dr Masuka explained.

Irrigation, Water Supply and Urban DevelopmentA major focus of the project is irrigation.

Minister Masuka revealed that 200 hectares have already been identified for irrigation blocks at Goromonzi, with further identification continuing in Murewa.

Plans are also underway to convey water to nearby villages, with treatment works being established to serve rural areas and growth points.

Dr Masuka highlighted that Kunzvi Dam will also play a critical role in supplying water to Harare and the emerging New City at Mt. Hampden.

Treatment works are planned at Chikurubi and within the New City to support both domestic and industrial use.

Fisheries and Energy GenerationBeyond water supply and irrigation, the project is being structured as a multi-sectoral economic hub.

Dr. Masuka said the dam will be stocked with Nile Tilapia fish for both community fishing and commercial cage fishing, with locals being organized into cooperatives and companies to maximize income opportunities.

Additionally, Dr.Masuka added that the dam will incorporate an electricity generation component to power households, irrigation projects, and nearby communities.

Over 435 households, who have been resettled within their localities, will directly benefit from the power and other economic spin-offs.

Tourism PotentialGiven Kunzvi Dam’s proximity to Harare, the Minister said the project is expected to stimulate tourism investment.

“We anticipate the area will become a hive of commercial activity, attracting investors to build chalets, lodges and other facilities,” he said.

An inter-ministerial committee comprising 13 ministries, chaired by Dr. Masuka, is overseeing the project to ensure its alignment with President Mnangagwa’s Vision 2030.

A Shift From the Past

Dr. Masuka noted that dam projects in the past evoked fear among communities due to mass relocations and lack of direct benefits, citing the example of the Tonga people displaced during the construction of Kariba Dam in 1957.

“The advent of the Second Republic has changed the paradigm.

Communities surrounding dams are now the primary beneficiaries of economic opportunities arising from these projects,” he emphasized.

“The dam is no longer just a project; it is an economy.”

By reorganizing families within their communities, rather than displacing them far away, the Government has fostered trust and participation, ensuring that the local people are central to the benefits of Kunzvi Dam.

As the project nears completion, it stands as a flagship of Zimbabwe’s inclusive development agenda, unlocking opportunities in irrigation, energy, fisheries, tourism, and rural industrialization and bringing Vision 2030 closer to reality for surrounding communities.