Bulawayo City Council consults public on GlassBlock Bopoma Dam

Nqobile Bhebhe, [email protected]

BULAWAYO City Council is embarking on public consultation meetings on the proposed short to medium-term water project – GlassBlock Bopoma Dam in Insiza District, Matabeleland South.

The consultations start on Saturday (tomorrow).

The local authority has already issued out a schedule of meetings in all the wards.

Posting on his X account, city mayor, councillor David Coltart said “There are very exciting developments concerning Glassblock Bopoma dam and all @CityofBulawayo Councillors will be conducting consultations with residents over the next few days.

“Do try to attend so that you can hear about the developments and give your own input.”

Late last year, Cllr Coltart led a delegation of council officials to Rabat, Morocco for the Africa Investment Forum (AIF).

The delegation sought to mobilise resources for Water and Sanitation short, medium and long term projects.

After the summit, Cllr Coltart told the Chronicle that there was tremendous interest for the project, attracting continental interest, generating US$90 million in expressions of interest.

“Pledges are not made at such a meeting but there are simple expressions of interest. Of the US$99 million that we are seeking, we had expressions of interest of just over US$90 million which was an outstanding response.

“But it can not be described as a pledge because there is considerable work that needs to be done to convert that interest into actual monetary commitments,” said Cllr Coltart then.

The dam which has a two-year construction timeline and an estimated cost US$100 million has a projected holding capacity of 130 million cubic metres.

It is being constructed through a public-private partnership (PPP).

The dam is strategically located at the intersection of Gwanda, Umzingwane and Filabusi districts and is expected to boost bulk water supplies for local communities.

Plans to construct the dam were mooted in 1988 but implementation of the project was stalled due to funding and other logistical challenges.

A 32km pipeline will link the dam to the Ncema Dam pump station so that Bulawayo can access water from the dam.

Bulawayo residents continue to endure prolonged water cuts, sometimes more than a week in some suburbs at a time when some parts of the country are experiencing an outbreak of cholera and diarrhoea.

 

 

 

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