Zimbabwe’s largest inland dam will be drained to allow the construction of a new wall after the original structure burst earlier this year.

Thousands of people were evacuated and more than 3 000 villagers along the Tokwe Mukorsi basin left homeless after heavy rains caused the Tokwe-Mukorsi dam to partially collapse early this year.

Construction of the new wall is schedule to begin this month. However, the engineers say the dam must be emptied for the wall to be constructed. This has raised concern as the dam water will not be used productively. “We will drain this water and those living downstream who want to use it can do so but most of the water would just be wasted. It will cost more to divert the water to other points,” an engineer told CAJ News at a recent meeting held by the Masvingo Provincial Development Committee.

The dam is being constructed by Italian company Salini Impregilo and is scheduled for completion in August. The project is expected to cost US$ 430 million, of which $181 million has already been spent.