via EU pledges US$100m for Kariba repairs 28/03/2014 by Xinhua NewZimbabwe
THE European Union (EU) says it will release between 85 million and 100 million U.S. dollars by July this year towards repair works for Kariba Dam which has developed cracks that are said to threaten its existence.
Engineers have warned that the Kariba Dam, Africa’s largest man-made lake measuring 226 kilometres long and in some places 40 kilometres wide, has developed weaknesses and may collapse if nothing is done to repair it in the next three years.
Collapsing of the dam wall would affect nearly 3.5 million people in the southern African region and about 250 million dollars is required for its repair.
EU Head of Delegation in Zambia Gilles Hervio said he recently travelled to the EU headquarters in Brussels where the matter was presented.
“Kariba Dam is a potential disaster and I travelled to Brussels and by June and July, money will be released. We are studying it and no decision has been made yet but the amount involved could be between 85 million dollars and 100 million dollars,” he was quoted as saying by the paper.
On Wednesday, the African Development Bank (AfDB) said it has started mobilizing about 75 million dollars to support the rehabilitation of the dam.
Last week, Zambia’s Minister of Finance Alexander Chikwanda said the government has sought support from the EU, AfDB and the World Bank to finance the rehabilitation of the dam.
Ministers responsible for energy and water developments in in Zambia and Zimbabwe visited the dam on Tuesday and assured that the two governments were closely monitoring the dam.
The two ministers, who downplayed the seriousness of the problem, said “minor cracks” have appeared on the dam wall which must be mended. They further assured that there was no need to panic.
COMMENTS
What is wrong with these EU guys – every day they are told we don’t need you – we are looking east. Why you still giving us money?? – you can go hang. We can do it alone. We are a sovereign state.
Except that the chinese will be building the multi billion dollar kariba south on the back of a collapsed dam wall. That is typical china for you. They did two white elephants in Zambia: Tanzania Zambia Railway (TAZARA) and Tanzania Zambia Pipeline (TAZAMA) without a feasibility study now its is Zimbabwe’s turn.
They do it because they want to save the lives of 3.5 million villagers downstream, fool!.
Believe me, they are not doing this for ZANU-PF, or killer Mugarbage.
Everyone knows simian Mugarbage will steal the money and stash it in Singapore,
so they will give it to Zambia to handle.
Smart move.
EU are the biggest fools of the lot, they may as well throw the cash into the lake it’s the same thing.
Allowing for the normal 30% kickback, that leaves 60 million.
for getting some expert advice.
You cannot maintain or repair concete, there is no method.
Try it at home – whatever the cement once its dry , drop it and it will break at the crack again.
It wqwre better to prepare for disaster if no expertise is brought it.
Current prognosis and recommendations thus far are disasterous.
A car engine may be maintained concrete cant. If concrete cracks it is a problem in manufacture – what you can do isake samples and test for what was wrong – type of sand, type and quality of cement, and the stone, but all that will tell you is that the concrete was not produced correctly, which is apparent from the cracks.
It need to be decommissioned and, if there is no sound rock to attach to, abandon the idea of a dam there and spend money on another thermal station at Sengwa.
There is a need for journalists to ask the idiots precisely how you maintain concrete and how precisely you repair it.
Watch them stammer, its impossible.
I mean will they say it need an oil change, its ridiculous, or painting with a magic paint.
It’s going through Zambia, no Zimbabwe, so Mugarbage won’t see a penny!
Strangely, there has been nothing offered by the Chinese. Me thinks ,the more destitute and desperate Zimbabwe is , the easier it is to enslave. The Chinese are shrewd operators.
Zanu is mince meat.
Sellouts.
They had better make very sure that they hold and control the purse strings of the promised money. Already I see a long queue made up of Zanu hierarchy waiting to grab their share and ship it overseas to numbered bank accounts. Very little, if any, will eventually be used in fixing the dam wall. Thieving trash
After all the minister says “the is nothing to panic” besides “these a minor cracks”. President Mugabe is surrounded by fools. The poliburo is but “display of clowns”. Its Red Cross and othe NGOs whc noted tha all was not well at Tokwe Mkosi. To the minister, his worry is rather about dead elephants they masterminded the art of killing than people. Idi ooh, naBaba vangu vakwiyo, the Lord will punish the jokers right from the top. Mark my words
HOW DARE ZIMBABWE ASK BRUSSELS OR ANYONE ELSE FOR A LOAN.
ASK THE GENERALS. ASK THE POLICE COMMISSIONER. ASK MUNANGAGWA. ASK MPOFU. ASK ANY ZANU PF MINISTER.
Actually Joyce Mujuru could repair the entire dam wall,
with the $1- BILLION her filthy husband stole over the years!
The EU must insist that they send the engineers and pay them because if not, there is no doubt, that the money will disappear and nothing done about Kariba. Billions from Europe have already been stolen by the ZANU PF looters. Hopefully they have finally learned but do not be surprised if ZANU PF refuses it if they cannot control the loan. If they had talents that match their tanent for theft, the country would still be what it once was.
Let the damn, whoops! dam wall go.
So why can’t Zambia and Zimbabwe supply the money to fix it? Why must the former colonial masters supply the money? I read that Chiyangwa is worth $180million-what is Mugabe worth then? Why can’t they fix it from their stolen loot?
Then how could they buy luxurious mansions in
Hong Kong, Singapore and Dubai?
EU is not stupid as most of you judge them quickly without thinking deeply.I can guarantee you that the people who will repair this Arch Wall will be from Italy and France because they are the experts on these dam walls,so the money will be used within EU.These guys cannot be easily fooled by third world countries as most of you think.
They know how to deal with political issues,just see what they are now doing with Russia.Wait and see how they will diplomatically finish Russia through isolation and economically as they did with Iran.It might take long but they will reach there eg they are now sourcing for new energy alternatives from North Africa.Once these natural gas pipe lines are completed,Russia will be economically weakened and clueless.See what is happening with the visas for the invited leaders.Think and pause before making emotional comments.
Besides the guy who is sourcing for money is based in Zambia. Zimbabwean are short sighted and jealous. This is an important issue to attend to which is also beneficial to their business interests. Mind you the bridge is a link between a lot of countries which serves as a transit link for transportation of those countries’ goods. Malawi, Mozambique are also very much concerned more than your devil BOB because of the impacts that it causes as a result of the mishap. Mugabe haana kana basa neupenyu hwenyu vanhuwee, if he can chase people away before vasati vapedza kukohwa zvinhu zvavo munoti munhu akadini. If you audit the compliment of the so called orphans vari pachikoro chaGire unowana vese vari hama dzake. Do not be surprised.
I think that the EU move is welcome. We on this forum should desist from saying that this regime must be brought down by any means or cost. We have to draw a line on loss of innocent lives. What I am saying is that the EU and the world at large must think about the people and animals in the path of this potential disaster. This has to be about saving lives. For example would anyone want a bomb to be dropped in Harare to get rid of some people and putting ordinary innocent people at risk? I think not. With this in mind I salute those in the EU that are making this funding available.
Did I read this from you, do little?
“We on this forum should desist from saying that this regime must be brought down by any means or cost”
Are you smoking dagga or crack?
That’s what this forum IS ALL ABOUT, fool!
The Mind Boggles, and then who cares the cash, era Africa used to build the dams and the bridges with their trees and done it without asking EU and its followers, now EU acts as if they assist Africa while collect, loot and use Africa’s most resourceful tools; i say have your fake money and leave us alone!!
Parangeta I think you are the fool not to see my point. Lest we forget we are human I would not sacrifice the lives of my fellow countrymen so I would never urge thee EU not to assist in providing funding for this dam wall. If you read and comprehended I went on to say “We have to draw a line on loss of innocent lives” Do not try to spin my words into what you thought I wanted say.
@ Doctor do little I for one hear what you say. Some might think sacrificing the innocent you talk about will help bring the downfall of Zanu when there is a total blackout in Zimbabwe if this dam collapses. Anyone might have a relative or friend in the hospital if this happened. It might even be you or me. I don’t think you smoke dagga or crack but I also don’t think you should not return fire on the fool comment as you have been one of the cool heads that has made a lot of sense with your contributions. There would be a very small number that would think of you as a fool.