Zim’s impressive water infrastructure

13 Mar, 2020 - 00:03 0 Views

The ManicaPost

Samuel Kadungure Senior Reporter

WHEN Zimbabwe attained independence in April 1980, the Government embarked on a mission to provide multi-purpose water in both rural and urban settlements.

After careful planning and consultations, the bulk water supply scheme was implemented.

In Manicaland, the key initiative was the construction of Osborne Dam on the confluence of Odzi and Nyatande rivers in Mutasa District.

Construction was financed with aid from the Italian government, primarily to supply water to irrigation schemes in Chimanimani and Chipinge districts.

The iconic water infrastructure was Government’s response to challenges of water management to meet or exceed the province’s irrigation, hydro-power generation and future industrial needs.

The dam — the largest in Manicaland — was constructed between 1988 and 1995 at an estimated cost of US$300 million.

Since completion in 1995, the dam has morphed into a catalyst for provincial development — fostering rural development by enhancing food security and poverty eradication.

The dam has made irrigation, fishing, livestock production, among other economic activities, a possibility. It is also playing a huge part in promoting recreational activities in the province.

True to its purpose, Osborne Dam is an important means of meeting water, hydropower and industrial demands.

It is an earth embankment dam with a surface area of 2 600 hectares and a storage capacity of 400 000 mega-litres of water.

It has a catchment area of 1 392km², an embankment of 66 metres high and a crest length of 1 007 metres.

The volume of earth in the embankment is 5, 1 million cubic metres. It has a drop inlet spillway with a crest radius of 15,7m and a 6m diameter shaft.

The dam’s throwback is 16km up the Odzi River and 15km along Nyatande tributary.

It is more than 6km wide and 66m deep.

The site was identified in the 1950s but construction commenced after the completion of Mazvikadei Dam in Mashonaland West (1985–88).

Ten thousands hectares of irrigable land had been identified downstream.

Wedged in a unique landscape of rolling moorlands, high altitude heath, fish-filled sparkling river waters and lush green undulating slopes in Mutasa, the dam also provides a perfect environ for water sports like swimming and yachting. It has the best natural outdoor terrain for adventure activities.

It is a scenic gem and a tourist attraction that can hold its own as one of Manicaland’s most beautiful spots, with boundless aesthetic splendor!

Whatever kind of holiday adventure or outdoor activity interests you, Osborne Dam is the best destination.

From sailing to angling, walking to sun bathing, there is always something for everyone.

Facilities at the dam include a rest camp and a camping site.

Plans are also afoot to turn the dam into lasting tourism opportunities.

The objective is not only to develop tourism, but also to develop ‘eco citizenship’.

The envisaged eco-tourist centre will boast of air-conditioned villas that can accommodate 400 people, a restaurant, bar, swimming pool, a room for handicraft, and a conference hall.

What an ideal location for fishing and boating tournaments.

Other activities include walking safaris, game drive, pony rides, windsurfing and canoeing.

Visitors will turn right at Odzi, onto a 20km gravel road. Alternatively, one can use the Koodoosberg Road off the Nyanga – Mutare Road.

Like most dams in Zimbabwe, Osborne Dam is used for fishing, recreation and tourism.

It has a large endowment of fish. Thousands of fish farmers in Mutasa and Makoni districts have significantly benefited  from the water reservoir.

Fishing and aquaculture are therefore providing food and livelihoods to thousands of resource-poor villagers in the two districts.

With Zimbabwe currently experiencing up to 18 hours of load-shedding daily, Swedish owned Ngonyezi Projects last year entered into a non-consumptive water-use agreement with the Zimbabwe National Water Authority to install a combined 2 000MWh pumped-storage hydro and a 300MW solar photovoltaic (PV) plant at the dam.

Ngonyezi Projects executive director, Mr Tomas Persson recently said the company’s pumped hydroelectric energy storage power plant will contribute to the reduction of the hours of load-shedding in the country.

“Also, the fact that the solar panels are covering the dam’s water surface will save some 20-million cubic water by reducing evaporation. This saving will support the planned irrigation scheme,” said Mr Persson.

The plant operates with two tanks (upper and lower), and the water from the upper reseviour flows down into the lower reservoir by rotating the turbines of the hydroelectric power plant.

The water from the lower tank is pumped again to supply the upper tank, and so on.

The pumped hydro is generally built to provide backup support for the national power grid and is launched during peak hours when network capacity declines.

According to Ngonyezi Projects, the peak in electricity consumption is observed for eight-and-a-half hours a day.

Upon completion of the pumped storage project, Zimbabwe will become the second country in Africa with pumped storage, after South Africa.

Share This:

Sponsored Links

We value your opinion! Take a moment to complete our survey

This will close in 20 seconds