The Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) has recently proposed to the State of Zimbabwe an estimated budget for the implementation of the Wenimbe Hydroelectric Dam Rehabilitation Project at Marondera in Mashonaland Province. ZINWA will finance the project to the tune of over US$946,000 (over Z$342.4 million).
Rehabilitation work on the Wenimbe hydroelectric dam at Marondera in Zimbabwe’s Mashonaland province could soon start. The Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) has recently suggested to the government of this East African country an estimated budget for the implementation of the project. More than US$946,000 (over $342.4 million Zimbabwean dollars) will be required.
The Wenimbe Dam Water Infrastructure Rehabilitation Project is a “necessity” for Marondela, as the town’s main water source is heavily “polluted”. This situation is caused by sewage that discharges into the dam’s basin.
Repairing water intakes
Currently, Wenimbe has two water pumping stations and a 16 km pipeline from the dam to the drinking water plant. Normally, the pumping capacity of the installations is 540 m³ per hour. Currently, the actual production is only 270 m³ per hour. The reason for this low efficiency is that the Wenimbe dam has been operating for several years with only one set of pumps. “If we can get all four pumps at the two stations of the dam to work, we will be able to approach the bar of 540 m³ of water produced per hour,” says Colleta Tundu, an engineer from ZINWA.
ZINWA’s specifications call for the installation of new multi-stage pumps with motors at the main station and at the secondary intake. This operation is expected to cost US$312,000 (over $112.9 million Zimbabwean dollars).
ZINWA also plans to upgrade the polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipeline linking the dam to the drinking water plant. This will increase the amount of water treated from 30 to 60 per cent. This second component of the rehabilitation project is expected to require an investment of US$634,000, or more than Z$229.4 million.
Inès Magoum
