Zambezi Water Project takes off

Water and Resources Development minister, Sam Sipepa-Nkomo, told The Zimbabwean that his ministry and the ministry of finance had signed the MOU with the un-named investor.

Unfortunately at this point in time I cannot name the investors or the country that they come from. However, I am glad to announce that the MOU that will see the Zambezi water project finally being implemented has been signed, he said.

Sipepa-Nkomo said they were hopeful that by the end of the year everything would be in place to kick-start the project.

There has been a long wait for the project to take off and we are doing everything in our power to ensure that the project goes ahead as soon as possible, he said.

The minister had earlier indicated that several investors from various countries including Italy, China, Israel and India were interested in financing the project and the ministry had to consider the best option.

Sources indicated that some of the investors were willing to put money into the project in return for mineral rights. But some members of Cabinet were against this idea.

An unnamed company was said to be interested in lithium mining rights.

The Zambezi water project is expected to draw water from the Zambezi River through a pipeline running across Matabeleland North to Bulawayo.

The region is arid and has suffered perennial shortages of water and the precious liquid from the Zambezi had been envisaged to be the final solution to Matabelelands water woes.

The project was mooted in 1912 but successive governments have failed to implement the project citing high costs but lack of political will was also cited as one of the major hindrances to the success of the project.

The project was previously run by the Matabeleland Zambezi Water Trust, with Zapu president Dumiso Dabengwa as chairman, before the inclusive government decided to take over.