Leonard Ncube and Nozwelo Hadebe, Chronicle Reporters
THE Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) says it is ready to start implementing the $4 billion Batoka Gorge Hydro-Electric Scheme (BGHES) with site pegging expected to begin in the next few weeks.

Viewed as the panacea to electricity problems facing Zimbabwe and Zambia, the BGHES will see two power stations being constructed to produce a combined 2 400MW to be shared by the two countries.

ZRA has roped in Hwange Rural District Council (HRDC) and Victoria Falls Municipality (VFM) which are directly linked to the project in an effort to get buy-in from all stakeholders.

Yesterday the river authority held a meeting with VFM management following similar engagement with HRDC recently.

Speaking at the meeting which also involved a tour of the site, ZRA chief executive officer Mr Munyaradzi Munodawafa said engagement with possible contractors was underway with actual work set to begin next year.

“We have roped in Hwange RDC, Victoria Falls Municipality, and the Department of Physical Planning and in a few weeks’ time we will be working on boundaries at the site.

“We got clearance from the two Governments and the riparian States who have influence on the Zambezi as well as from Sadc and the African Union hence the Batoka now has all the required approval for development and no State can renege at this stage,” said Mr Munodawafa.

He said the synergies with the local authorities were meant to share skills.

“Probably, if we are seen with the municipality that will bring in more stakeholders. The process we are currently doing shows we are leaving no stone unturned,” he said.

Mr Munodawafa noted that the BGHES project is going to add value to business especially for the local authorities who should be the first to benefit.

He said dam construction is set to start next year while electricity generation is expected to begin in the third year.

Mr Munodawafa said ZRA is assessing contractors from across the globe on a Design, Finance-Build-Operate and Transfer arrangement.

VFM Town Clerk Mr Ronnie Dube expressed the Municipality’s commitment in partnering ZRA.

“We are excited with the initiative as it brings benefit to the two nations through availability of electricity which will save foreign currency by reducing importation of power.

“This synergy will bring immense benefits to us and as a local authority we have got skills like planning and geo-information systems which we are prepared to offer so that the project succeeds. We are assured of development along the corridor which will also boost tourism,” said Mr Dube.

No communities will be displaced while a satellite town will be built near the dam site, according to the Environmental Impact Assessment.

The dam wall, which will be located 54km downstream from Victoria Falls, will be 181 metres high, a safe height to avoid flooding the resort town.

The dam’s backwash will go as far as Victoria Falls Hotel, dam engineers said.

A total 6 000 jobs will be created to be shared among the two countries and ZRA has vowed to empower locals on either side of the Zambezi River.

The dedicated power line will run from the station to Gokwe-Chakari which is Zimbabwe’s Central Transmission System while another one will go straight to Hwange power station.

Another dam will also be constructed at the Devil’s Gorge about 40km downstream from the dam at the tail end of Kariba Dam in Mlibizi.

There will also be a bridge across the Zambezi River about a km downstream from the dam wall to connect the two countries— @ncubeleon

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