Johannesburg – South Africa and Zimbabwe are discussing a proposed $500 million dam project that could supply water to the Musina-Makhado Special Economic Zone in Limpopo, as both countries seek longer-term solutions to growing water demands.
According to Bloomberg, the proposed Thuli Moswa Dam, to be built in Zimbabwe’s Thuli area, would have a storage capacity of about 430 million cubic metres and could supply up to 90 million cubic metres of water to the South African industrial zone.
South Africa’s Department of Water and Sanitation said the two countries are still discussing a joint feasibility study.
“South Africa and Zimbabwe are still in discussion on the proposed joint study to assess the feasibility of building dams in Zimbabwe and transferring water to Limpopo province as a long-term plan,” department spokesperson Wisane Mavasa was quoted as saying.
The proposed project is aimed partly at supporting the Musina-Makhado Special Economic Zone, which is planned to accommodate energy-intensive industries including metals processing and manufacturing. The zone declined to comment “at this stage”, according to Bloomberg.
18-month preparation phase
Zimbabwe’s Agriculture Ministry secretary, Obert Jiri, said there is currently no timeline for the project to begin, The Herald reported.
If the project proceeds, documents cited by Bloomberg indicate an estimated 18-month preparation phase, followed by about three years of construction. South Africa would pay for the water under an agreement lasting between five and 35 years.
The proposed dam would build on existing water cooperation between the neighbouring countries. In 2024, South Africa and Zimbabwe signed an agreement for Zimbabwe to supply 41 megalitres of treated water a day to Musina, with plans for a pipeline and pump stations. The South African government said the project was intended to help address Musina’s water shortages.
The latest discussions come as South Africa faces growing pressure to secure reliable water supplies for households and industry. The proposed project would also deepen economic cooperation between the two countries, which have been expanding bilateral ties through their Bi-National Commission. South Africa’s government said the two countries concluded six new cooperation agreements at the commission’s fourth session in August.
The proposed dam would be one of the largest cross-border water projects involving South Africa since the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, which supplies water to South Africa’s industrial heartland.
For now, however, the Thuli Moswa project remains at the discussion and feasibility-study stage, with financing, construction and a start date yet to be finalised.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
