Journal of Science, Engineering & Technology M.J. Tumbare (2013) 8-19 Implementing Zimbabwean Projects in the Zambezi Valley M. J. Tumbare, PhD FICE, FZweIE, FEIZ, FZAS, ACIArb University of Zimbabwe, Department of Civil Engineering, Box MP167, Mt. Pleasant, Harare E-mail: [email protected] Abstract Projects such as the Kazungula-Kasane Bridge, Victoria Falls North Bank Power Station, Hwange 7 and 8 Thermal Power Station Extension, Batoka Gorge Hydro-electric Scheme, Zambezi-Bulawayo Water Supply Scheme, Devil's Gorge Hydro-electric Scheme, Gokwe North Thermal Power Station, Kariba South Bank Power Station Extension and Mupata Gorge Hydro-electric Scheme have been on the Zimbabwean infrastructure development cards for a long time but are yet to see the light of day. The objective of the Paper is to highlight some of the opportunities and challenges that each Project presents to policy/decision makers and potential developers utilising information in the public domain, interviews held with relevant potential developers and from the author's experiences and knowledge of the Projects. Some of the opportunities cited relate to the availability of the production raw materials, markets for the end products whilst the challenges include environmental concerns, politics, trust and confidence between development partners and technical issues. Key words: Challenges, Infrastructure, Opportunities. 1. Introduction Zambezi - Bulawayo Water Supply Scheme Hwange 7 & 8 Extension The Zambezi Valley offers vast natural resources for Devil's Gorge Hydro-electric Scheme sustainable exploitation ranging from coal reserves, Gokwe North Thermal Power Station water resources to wildlife. Whilst the Zambezi River Kariba South Bank Power Station Extension and its tributaries may be considered more of an Mupata Gorge Hydro-electric Scheme obstruction to land traffic (Tumbare 2010), the Zambezi Kanyemba Bridge River and its tributaries offer various opportunities for developmental projects such as hydropower 2. Development Opportunities and generation, navigation, tourism and irrigation. In Challenges particular, transport, water supply, thermal and hydro power projects offered by the Zambezi Valley for 2.1 Bridges development for the benefit of Zimbabwe and other Two major bridges across the Zambezi River, the neighbouring countries, will be discussed in this Paper. Kazungula-Kasane and Kanyemba-Luangwa bridges, These Projects are: offer developmental opportunities and are key to the integration and development of the Southern African Katombora Weir Development Community's (SADC) road corridor Kazungula Bridge network. Figure 1 shows the bridges required across the Victoria Falls South Bank Power Station Zambezi River and its tributaries including the two cited Batoka Gorge Hydro-electric Scheme above. 8 Zimbabwe Institution of Engineers Journal of Science, Engineering & Technology M.J. Tumbare (2013) 8-19 Fig. 1: Proposed Bridges across the Zambezi River and its Tributaries (Source: Tumbare, 2010) KEY to Figure 1 The proposed bridges as numbered in the Figure 1 are: 1. Zambezi to Litapi 2. Mongu to Kalabo 3. Senanga to Sitoti 4. Shangombo to Rivungo 5. Sinjembela to Luiana 6. Kazungula to Kasane 7. Kanyemba to Luangwa 8. Luangwa to Zumbo 9. Caia to Nicuadula Around the geographic point that the political crossing is usually tedious and causes long delays, thus boundaries of the four countries of Botswana, Namibia, the need for a bridge linking Botswana (Kasane) and Zambia and Zimbabwe theoretically meet, there are two Zambia (Kazungula). international Border Posts: Zimbabwe (Kazungula) to Botswana (Kasane) and Botswana (Kasane) to Zambia The construction of the Kasane-Kazungula bridge across (Kazungula). The current Zimbabwe to Botswana Border the Zambezi River will improve the traffic flow from Post is over land but the Botswana to Zambia crosses the western and southern parts of the SADC Region to the Zambezi River using two motorised pontoons. These eastern and northern parts. It will also promote trading carry at most 30 trucks per day as well as smaller motor between Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. vehicles and pedestrians (SADC, 2009). The ferry The bridge crossing numbered 6 in Figure 1 refers. Zimbabwe Institution of Engineers 9 Journal of Science, Engineering & Technology M.J. Tumbare (2013) 8-19 In 2001, the Japanese International Cooperation Agency does not form part of the SADC's north-south corridor (JICA) contracted Nippon Koei and Oriental Consultant road transport network, this Bridge, if constructed, will to undertake a feasibility study of the Kazungula-Kasane greatly improve local trade between Zimbabwe, Zambia Bridge. In 2008, further studies were commissioned by and Mozambique bearing in mind that this area also has the African Development Bank for detailed designs of National Parks in the three countries which attract the Bridge and Tolling Facilities. At this stage, some tourists. However, prior to the realisation of this Bridge negotiations were required as parts of the Bridge Project, a lot of work is required to improve the road traversed the Zambezi River over Zimbabwean territory network and bridges in the Zambezi escarpment of necessitating Zimbabwe to be treated as an equal Zimbabwe, Zambia and Mozambique leading to this development partner with Botswana and Zambia or the Kanyemba-Luangwa Bridge to facilitate road traffic to affected land being appropriated by Botswana. then fruitfully and fully utilise this Bridge. It is hoped Zimbabwe opted for the former. During this period, that the lessons learnt from the experiences of the both Zambia and Botswana openly disapproved of the Kazungula-Kasane Bridge will assist in facilitating Government of National Unity in Zimbabwe and took adoption of better strategic approaches to such future advantage of this Zimbabwean position to remove joint international projects. Zimbabwe completely from the Kasane-Kazungula Bridge Project by seeking and getting permission from 2.2 Integration of marine and land transport Namibia, without Namibia claiming partnership in the utilising Lake Kariba Project, to realign the Bridge to pass over Namibian There is great potential for the development of marine territory. Thus Zimbabwean Consultants and transport on Lake Kariba, operated in combination with Contractors lost opportunities to tender for this work. land transport. Currently, if one needs to go to Victoria Zimbabwe also lost the opportunity of future Falls from Kariba, one has to take the tortuous and dirt collaboration with Botswana and Zambia on this Bridge. road through Karoyi to Hwange via Binga and yet if The estimated construction cost of the Bridge is USD 82 there was an efficient marine transport system on Lake million with an additional USD 30 million for Border Post Kariba, one would travel by ferry to Mlimbizi en-route to control facilities. Hwange and Victoria Falls. This would be a more joyous and scenic journey for both the traveller and a relief to Another geographic situation arises similar to the the motor vehicle. Flying would be another option, but location of the Kazungula Bridge. This is where the would be more costly and least scenic if this was a family political boundaries of the three countries of holiday excursion. Similarly, if one wants to travel from Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe theoretically meet Kariba to Livingstone in Zambia, one has to hit the road at a point. The nearest towns to this point on either side through Kafue and yet the journey would easily be of the Zambezi River are Kanyemba (Zimbabwe), shortened if an efficient ferry service operated on Lake Luangwa (Zambia) and Zumbo (Mozambique). Whilst Kariba that would take the traveller to Sinazongwe. the Kanyemba to Luangwa Bridge across the Zambezi Figure 2 gives some details of this possible integration of River (the bridge crossing numbered 7 in Figure 1 refers) marine and land transport. Fig. 2: Integration of Lake Kariba Marine and Land Transport (Source: Tumbare, 2010) 10 Zimbabwe Institution of Engineers Journal of Science, Engineering & Technology M.J. Tumbare (2013) 8-19 The above proposal will need introduction of new 2.3.1 Hwange Thermal Power Station Border Posts on the Lake Kariba lakeshore Hwange Thermal Power Station was first commissioned complemented with appropriate upgrading of the in 1972 with an installed total generating capacity of roads and bridges along Lake Kariba's lakeshore in both 480 MW (4 x 120 MW units). The Thermal Power Station Zambia and Zimbabwe. This requires the two countries was later extended by 440 MW (2 x 220 MW units) sharing Lake Kariba to have the same vision in improving which was commissioned in 1987. This brought the the transport situation in the Zambezi Valley as a whole total installed capacity to 920 MW making Hwange the and in the enhanced economic development of the largest power station in Zimbabwe. In the 1990's, plans Zambezi Valley in particular, which has been neglected to further extend Hwange Thermal Power Station by 600 since the colonial era. MW (2 x 300 MW units), the so called "Hwange 7 & 8 Extension", were almost realised. Allafrica.com (1998) 2.3 Thermal Power Projects reported that "Government is headed for a showdown The Zambezi Valley provides two viable coal fields with the embattled Zimbabwe Electricity Supply around Hwange and Sengwa (refer Figure 3 and Table 1 Authority (ZESA) Board over its insistence that there be a for details). The coal fields at Hwange are currently speedy resolution of the disposal of ZESA's Hwange supplying high grade coal for mining, agricultural and Thermal Power Station to YTL Power Corporation of other manufacturing purposes whilst also providing Malaysia, a deal the Board is reportedly adamant it will coal to power the Thermal Power Station at Hwange. not endorse. Negotiations with YTL have been dragging The coal fields at Sengwa are large and proven and on for three years as the two sides wrangle over could be utilised in like manner as the Hwange coal shareholding arrangements and asset transfer". With fields but firing the proposed Gokwe North Thermal the beginning of Zimbabwe's economic recession from Power Station.