Government has signed a memorandum of understanding with a Chinese company, Avik International, for the construction of Kunzvi Dam, a Cabinet Minister said yesterday.

Plans to build Kunzvi Dam, with a capacity of 158,4 million cubic meters of water, were mooted 30 years ago but have been repeatedly hampered by lack of funding.

Water Resources, Management and Development Minister Samuel Sipepa Nkomo said the Chinese firm was ready to start the construction work as soon as possible.

"A Chinese company is going to construct the dam. I am sick and tired of the previous arrangements which failed to materialise, thus as Government we switched to plan B and we are going to move forward," he said.

It is believed that the Chinese firm would partner other private contractors engaged last year, including Locan Holdings, Swede Water Limited, Okada Group from Nigeria and Vince Group of France.

The project is estimated to cost at least US$370 million, of which US$70 million is for the construction of the dam and the other US$300 million for pump stations, reservoirs, water treatment works, conveyance and connections to the existing city of Harare network.

The Kunzvi Dam site is located 67km north east of Harare near Juru Growth Point on the Nyaguwi River.

New Ziana