AfDB Mission Evaluates US$100 Million Dam Project

A high-level African Development Bank (AfDB) delegation is in Zimbabwe to evaluate the US$100 million Glassblock Bopoma Dam and Pipeline Project. The mission aims to unlock large-scale financing for Matabeleland, a region plagued by chronic water insecurity. Supporters argue that AfDB involvement provides the necessary technical and financial oversight to ensure project viability. Opponents counter that the government’s history of project delays and corruption risks stalling the initiative despite international backing. The project represents a significant strategic effort to secure water resources for agriculture and industry, potentially transforming the regional economic landscape. Bottom line: International institutional backing is the final hurdle for this critical water infrastructure project.