Matabeleland Zambezi Water Project
Encyclopedia
The Matabeleland Zambezi Water Project (MZWP) is an ambitious project
being undertaken in the arid Matabeleland North
province of Zimbabwe
.The project seeks to end the perennial water shortages bedevelling Zimbabwe's second city
of Bulawayo
by bringing water from the mighty Zambezi
river to the city
.
can be classified as a Major Project. It is expected to cost US$600 million which is a huge investment by African standards. The project will consist of three phases as follows:
of the project. Commenced in September 2004 it is expected to provide a reservoir
for this project. The dam
will be located about 6 km downstream of the confluence
of the Gwayi river and Shangani river.
Project
A project in business and science is typically defined as a collaborative enterprise, frequently involving research or design, that is carefully planned to achieve a particular aim. Projects can be further defined as temporary rather than permanent social systems that are constituted by teams...
being undertaken in the arid Matabeleland North
Matabeleland North
Matabeleland North is a province in western Zimbabwe. It borders the provinces of Midlands and Mashonaland West to the east and northeast respectively, and the province of Matabeleland South and the city of Bulawayo to the south. Its northern border is defined by the Zambezi river, while its...
province of Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
.The project seeks to end the perennial water shortages bedevelling Zimbabwe's second city
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
of Bulawayo
Bulawayo
Bulawayo is the second largest city in Zimbabwe after the capital Harare, with an estimated population in 2010 of 2,000,000. It is located in Matabeleland, 439 km southwest of Harare, and is now treated as a separate provincial area from Matabeleland...
by bringing water from the mighty Zambezi
Zambezi
The Zambezi is the fourth-longest river in Africa, and the largest flowing into the Indian Ocean from Africa. The area of its basin is , slightly less than half that of the Nile...
river to the city
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
.
The Project
The projectProject
A project in business and science is typically defined as a collaborative enterprise, frequently involving research or design, that is carefully planned to achieve a particular aim. Projects can be further defined as temporary rather than permanent social systems that are constituted by teams...
can be classified as a Major Project. It is expected to cost US$600 million which is a huge investment by African standards. The project will consist of three phases as follows:
- Phase One: Gwayi-Shangani Dam
- Phase Two: Gwayi-Shangani Dam to Bulawayo Pipeline
- Phase Three: Gwayi-Shangani Dam to Zambezi River Pipelne
Phase One: Gwayi-Shangani Dam
The Gwayi-Shangani dam is the first phase of the MZWP and is the coreCore
- Science and Academics :* Core , in mathematics, an object in group theory* Core , in mathematics, a subset of the domain of a closable operator* Core , in mathematics, the homomorphically minimal subgraph of a graph...
of the project. Commenced in September 2004 it is expected to provide a reservoir
Reservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
for this project. The dam
Dam
A dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions. Hydropower and pumped-storage hydroelectricity are...
will be located about 6 km downstream of the confluence
Confluence
Confluence, in geography, describes the meeting of two or more bodies of water.Confluence may also refer to:* Confluence , a property of term rewriting systems...
of the Gwayi river and Shangani river.
Dam Type and Description
- Type: It is a Roller Compacted Concrete gravity dam, which means it is a damDamA dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions. Hydropower and pumped-storage hydroelectricity are...
relying on its weight for stability. - Dimensions
- Length: 305 metres from one mountain to the other.
- Width: 60 metres at the base.
- Height: 70 metres maximum.
- Bridge: Dam will have a bridgeBridgeA bridge is a structure built to span physical obstacles such as a body of water, valley, or road, for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle...
at the top of width 8 m.
- Depth and Capacity
- Maximum water depth: 59 metres, 11 metres freeboardFreeboard (nautical)In sailing and boating, freeboardmeans the distance from the waterline to the upper deck level, measured at the lowest point of sheer where water can enter the boat or ship...
. - Capacity: 634 million m³
- 10% Yield: 210 million m³
- Maximum water depth: 59 metres, 11 metres freeboard
- Materials Used And Quantities
- ConcreteConcreteConcrete is a composite construction material, composed of cement and other cementitious materials such as fly ash and slag cement, aggregate , water and chemical admixtures.The word concrete comes from the Latin word...
: 300000 m³ - QuarryQuarryA quarry is a type of open-pit mine from which rock or minerals are extracted. Quarries are generally used for extracting building materials, such as dimension stone, construction aggregate, riprap, sand, and gravel. They are often collocated with concrete and asphalt plants due to the requirement...
: 400000 m³ - CementCementIn the most general sense of the word, a cement is a binder, a substance that sets and hardens independently, and can bind other materials together. The word "cement" traces to the Romans, who used the term opus caementicium to describe masonry resembling modern concrete that was made from crushed...
/WaterWaterWater is a chemical substance with the chemical formula H2O. A water molecule contains one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms connected by covalent bonds. Water is a liquid at ambient conditions, but it often co-exists on Earth with its solid state, ice, and gaseous state . Water also exists in a...
Ratio: 0.55 - Fly ashFly ashFly ash is one of the residues generated in combustion, and comprises the fine particles that rise with the flue gases. Ash which does not rise is termed bottom ash. In an industrial context, fly ash usually refers to ash produced during combustion of coal...
/Cement Ratio: 7:3 - Concrete Grades: Dental 20, other 25.
- Concrete
Further reading
- "Mugabe to sign US$600m Zambezi Water Project deal" NewZimbabwe.com
- "Chefs in fresh land grab orgy in Mat North" Financial GazetteThe Financial GazetteThe Financial Gazette is a weekly English language newspaper published in Zimbabwe. The paper, established in 1969, focuses on business, finance, and politics throughout Southern Africa. Headquartered in Harare, the paper also maintains a bureau in Bulawayo. Its slogan is "Southern Africa's...
- "Water conservation - Bulawayo" SokwaneleSokwaneleSokwanele is a popular protest underground movement based in Zimbabwe. They are pro-democracy, and they embrace supporters of all pro-democratic political parties, civic organizations and institutions. Sokwanele is committed to challenging and confronting - through non-violent activism - the way in...
- "Water and the Potential for Resource Conflicts in Southern Africa"