The long-awaited Kunzvi Dam project has reached 74 percent completion, marking a major milestone in efforts to secure long-term water for Harare, Minister of State for Harare Metropolitan Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Senator Charles Tawengwa, has said.
Senator Tawengwa was speaking during the Second Provincial Development Committee and the ruling party’s Provincial Coordinating Committee meeting held in Harare on Tuesday.
“Reports received by my office indicate that the dam has reached approximately 74 per cent completion.
“This substantial development demonstrates the scale of progress being made towards strengthening bulk-water infrastructure,” he said.
A Project Long in Waiting
Kunzvi is arguably Zimbabwe’s most delayed dam project.
First mooted in the early 1990s and initially scheduled for construction in 1996, the dam has suffered repeated false starts for almost three decades.
The project was continually postponed due to funding challenges and a false belief that the existing Manyame system, Lakes Chivero and Manyame, was adequate for Harare’s needs.
In 2007, Government awarded the multi-million-dollar tender to China Jiangxi Corporation for International Economic and Technical Cooperation ahead of five local bidders.
However, that project failed to take off.
In 2012, the contract was handed to Kunzvi Water Development Corporation.
A consortium headed by businessman John Mapondera, before it was later cancelled amid allegations of tender irregularities and lack of capacity.
For years, the project became a symbol of “tenderpreneurship” where politically-connected firms secured mega projects without delivering.
Second Republic Revival
Significant progress only began after 2018 when the project was revived as part of Vision 2030 and the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1).
The US$109 million dam is being built by Makomo Engineering Pvt Ltd at the confluence of the Nora and Nyaguwe rivers in Goromonzi District.
Unlike all of Harare’s existing supply dams which sit on the Manyame River system to the south-west, Kunzvi sits to the north-east.
This allows it to supply higher-altitude areas by gravity and reduce costly pumping.
What Kunzvi Will Deliver
Once complete, Kunzvi will be one of the biggest water bodies in Mashonaland East.
Its water is primarily dedicated to urban use and will supply to north-eastern and eastern parts of Harare.
Ruwa, Chitungwiza and growth points such as Juru, Cross Musami and Majuru willalso benefit.
Senator Tawengwa said Government is pushing for completion in line with the 2026 commissioning target announced by the Ministry of Lands.
Treasury has allocated ZiG2 billion for dam construction across the country in the 2025 National Budget, with Kunzvi and Gwayi-Shangani receiving the largest share.
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