All set for start of Dande Dam construction

With everything set up to begin erecting the wall, work on the Dande Dam project is about to begin as the Second Republic keeps up its commitment to the ongoing development of vital infrastructure. Access roads, worker housing, a laboratory, a quarry facility, and the construction of an underground tube have already been established.

With 160 million cubic meters of water when completed, Dande Dam will be the largest body of water in Mashonaland Central. It will also significantly help the province fully engage in the National Development Strategy 1 and realize Vision 2030 through a variety of economic activities, including mining, agriculture, and recreation. The Second Republic has made it a key priority to consolidate national food security, so it is making every effort to maintain it by continuously expanding irrigation storage.

When the dam is finished, it will provide water to at least 4,000 hectares of arable land in the districts of Guruve and Mbire, which will significantly contribute to food security, particularly in light of events like droughts brought on by climate change. Water from the dam will be used for fishing, tourism, industrial use in Guruve and Dande, cattle, and a small hydroelectric plant with a capacity of about 3,6 megawatts.

Better nutrition, a decline in school dropout rates, and an increase in job creation are all benefits of increased food production. Farmers who would need to relocate before the dam fills in stated last week that there would be new options for them because of the larger picture of the project's potential to bring in major enterprise. Mr. Never Nekariya, who is presently residing at the building site and works intermittently on neighboring farms, expressed his satisfaction with the progress they have been making while they prepare to relocate.

“We are not even sad about being relocated. We actually cannot wait because the dam’s construction means big business for this community. The dam will bring with it a lot of things that will be very beneficial to our community be it jobs, business establishments, tourism activities, a boost in the agriculture side among other things.”

According to Ms. Simangaliso Meda, the dam would benefit her tuckshop business by increasing community engagement. We genuinely desire this dam because it will benefit us. As more people move into our community, even my tuckshop business will expand, she added. This will allow me to support my family's educational expenses.