By SYLVESTER MWWALE –
THE Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) says rehabilitation of the Kariba Dam is set to start in May this year following the acquisition of the required US$290 million from different cooperating partners.
ZRA chief executive officer, Munyaradzi Munondawafa told the Sunday Times that the environmental impact assessment was currently being conducted ahead of identifying the contractor.
Engineers have warned that the 128-metre-high Kariba Dam could collapse, threatening at least 3.5 million people especially in Mozambique and Malawi along the Zambezi River.
This has prompted the ZRA, a Zambia-Zimbabwe organisation which manages the Kariba Dam to immediately embark on a programme of raising US $290 million required for the rehabilitation.
The project would be done by supporting the reshaping of the plunge pool, refurbishment of the spillway and enhancing operations to bring them in line with international dam safety standards.
“All the cooperating partners who made pledges have fulfilled their promises and what remains is just the matter of discussing the contract,” Mr Munondawafa said.
“Works are likely to start in May or latest June, because we are likely to confirm the contractor after the ongoing environmental impact assessment exercise.”
The African Development Bank (AfDB) and the World Bank have each committed US $75 million towards the project while the European Union (EU) would spent US $100 million.
Mr Munondawafa said a report on the environmental impact assessment was being expected before the end of May.
He expressed happiness at the positive response from the cooperating partners saying the rehabilitation of the dam would rest growing fears on the safety of the people along the Zambezi River.
The Kariba Dam was constructed on the Zambezi River between 1956 and 1959 and has been central to energy security and supporting economic development in both Zambia and Zimbabwe.