Posted by HARARE, December 8, 2009 – The chairman of the Matabeleland Zambezi Water project, Dumiso Dabengwa says reports that the government wants to take over the Trust is “joke of the year”.
“In fact this story is the joke of the year for 2009,” Dabengwa said. “We have never decided that government takes over this project.”
The Minister of Water Development, Samuel Sipepa Nkomo, last week claimed that the government was now in charge of the project which has been docile for a long time.
Dabengwa says he was not told that government was now in charge and only heard about it in the newspapers.
Nkomo had meanwhile said he had met with Dabengwa and Vice President in waiting, John Nkomo, all from the Matatabeleland region to discuss the progress about the project meant to help solve Bulawayo’s water woes.
Dabengwa however disputed this saying the meeting was never held and he had not met with Nkomo whom he called “a liar”.
“This project is still in our hands,” Dabengwa said. “We have not agreed that government take it over.”
There has been much haggling about the project with the Malaysian Government claiming that it had been given it for US$5 million last year by Vice President Joice Mujuru.
Dabengwa said all this was “hogwash”.
He said his members would meet to pave the way forward.
Other members of the project include Bulawayo-based economic commentator, Eric Bloch.
If this project takes off there is a possibility of a water war in SADC. Countries upstream and downstream have to be consulted as well because we jointly own the Zambezi River together. No country should have an unfair advantage. These issues should be addressed at design stage.
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I wonder if Dumiso has ever heard that story of the frog which thought if it inflated itself then it would be as big as the cow. We all know how it ended up bursting. This applies to Dabengwa. He speaks as if he has the authority to stop the project being taken away from him. There are issues he failed to solve while in gvt yet he thinks he can solve them now from the wilderness,dream on. The issue of the Zambezi involves many countries. Its like trying to make a dam upriver to Egypt’s nile river. Wars can start over such issues so we need a gvt to address that issue, not some wishfull thinking spent force.
I agree 100% that the people of bulawayo have got a raw deal from gvt in as far as addressing their water woes is concerned but I think there are better ways to tackle the issue.
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Zimbabwean leaders are playing too much politics. There is Manyuchi Dam in Masvingo which has a very scenic water jet that could have been used to generate electricity but its just going to waste for no reason. In Manicaland there is Osborn Dam that was supposed to support farming activities in Nyanyadzi. Nyanyadzi has good soils but the area is dry. Politicians in Mutasa District played politics and stopped a noble agricultural project at Nyanyadzi. In Matebeleland again, the region is dry. Dabengwa’s intention is very genuine. The Matebeleland Zambezi Water Project needs to be addressed at SADC level. Kariba Dam is in the low veld and it will require considerable pumping to Matebeleland, this is one of the big negatives. The Zimbabwe government can seek the services of a civil engineer to look at various options available. There is plenty of water in Zimbabwe such that the current droughts we have experienced could be avoided. The Matebeleland Water Project requires a civil engineering solution.
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Dzimai Moto, you are correct there.Our politicians have this habit of not seeing anything good going on without their name being splashed all over the papers. HuGoodboy too much. Zanu pf guys seem to think that people must have a tough time all the time. On the other hand MDC would only like to see a complete improvement of the situation on the ground when they are incharge as the suffering is their trump card. I think Zimbabwe is cursed with the worst politicians. One side is intrested in blocking any improvements (MDC) and the other is mainly intrested in outmanouvering their opponent. If it was done for the betterment of the people it would make sense.
I know a very big dam in Mahusekwa Mashonaland Est province with plenty of water as that is the watershed of the country. You ask what exactly that water is being used for , all you will see is the politicians blinking with no answer. Last time i checked that water was going to the location houses which are very view to mention and benefit very few people.
It seems politicians are intrested in boasting about having dams in their provinces but if you now ask what they are doing there is no answer.
Dzimai Moto, imagine , South Africa is the thirty first driest country but you never hear all this nonsense of droughts because they make very good use of their water.I think we are just an incompetent bunch,period!
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the only thing i have gathered from this article is there is money to be made from MZWP. why do the malaysians want it. why does dumiso want it? at the back of it 20yrs have passed from the time the people from dry matebeleland had their hopes raised
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