Construction of Semwa Dam in Mashonaland Central Province is gathering momentum, with the massive water infrastructure project expected to transform Rushinga and Mount Darwin districts into a thriving green belt driven by irrigation, fisheries and rural industrialisation.
Once complete, the dam is set to unlock a broad economic ecosystem centred on reliable water supply, agriculture, tourism, fisheries and local commerce, bringing long-term relief to one of the country’s driest regions.
Workers on site are currently laying the foundation for what will become Mashonaland Central’s largest water reservoir, with a holding capacity of 260 000 megalitres.
Major works underway include preparations for a second solar plant to power the batching plant, rock blasting and aggregate crushing, as well as construction of inspection galleries within the dam wall structure.
Semwa Dam Assistant Resident Engineer, Engineer Francis Dzenga, said the project is progressing steadily and remains on course.
“We are now on 45.88 percent completion and doing mostly preparatory works on the superstructure. We are making precast concrete blocks for the inspection gallery. We have two inspection galleries. So far, we have made 470 blocks out of 600 which are required for gallery one,” said Engineer Dzenga.
“We are also doing rock blasting and crushing for aggregates at an average of 3 500 cubic metres per week,” he added.
For local communities, the project represents far more than infrastructure, it is a lifeline expected to reshape livelihoods through irrigation farming, fishing and improved access to clean water.
“This area is dry, and we expect to get water. We expect to benefit from projects in this area, which is lagging behind. For a long time we only knew one shop in this place, but we want to be known and hope there will be stands for people here,” said Maname resident Emmanuel Viga.
Dotito resident John Kufa said the dam would expand opportunities in fisheries and irrigation.
“Already I am engaged in fishing activities and I am benefiting from that, but I hope when the dam is finished, I will go full scale in fishing and embark on irrigation,” he said.
The project is already stimulating economic activity around the area, with businesses beginning to position themselves to benefit from increased traffic and tourism once the dam is completed.
KwaBoss Chatadza Manager, Tawonezvi Musara, said they had established a leisure facility targeting future visitors to the area.
“We expect people to visit here. They will come to see Semwa Dam and we will have goods found in Harare for them. We built a stage where we expect Sungura artistes like Simon Mutambi and Macheso to come,” said Musara.
According to the Rushinga Rural District Council, the dam will be a major catalyst for economic growth and food security in the district.
“As Rushinga RDC, this will greatly help us. The capacity is almost 260 000 megalitres, so it will catch a lot of water. Our people will irrigate, and the district will be a green belt,” said Rushinga RDC Chairperson Alderman Maja Mafunga.
“The place is hot and gets little rainfall, less than 500 millimetres per year. People will get water to drink also. Chimhanda Dam is heavily silted and does not hold much water. Semwa will also help us in terms of tourism. People will visit and we will also have fishing activities,” he added.
“In terms of food security, as Rushinga, our people will get enough food.”
Located along the Ruya River, Semwa Dam stretches across Rushinga and Mount Darwin districts, placing it at the centre of a wider rural transformation agenda expected to uplift communities through sustainable development and climate resilience.
With every layer of concrete poured, Semwa Dam is steadily becoming a symbol of hope and economic renewal for Mashonaland Central Province.
