Bulawayo.....................
Uzulu uveza imbono ehlukeneyo ngokwakhiwa kwedamu ele-Lake Gwayi- Shangani, elikhangelelwe ukunceda udubo lokusilela kwamanzi edolobheni lako-Bulawayo. Leli damu likhangelelwe njalo ukutholisa isizwe amandla kagetsi, angaba yisilinganiso sama-megawatts alitshumi - 10MegaWatts.
Ukwakhiwa kwe-Lake Gwayi-Shangani kuqhubeka kakuhle. Okwamanje, umduli usuwakhiwe wafika kusibanga sokungamatshumi ayisikhombisa lambili ekhulwini-72%; njalo ukhangelelwe ukuphela ngoMfumfu lonyaka.
Isakhamuzi sakoBulawayo uMnu. Mandla Tshuma usola isikhathi eside esithathwa ekwakhiweni kwaleli damu.
“Ukwakhiwa kwe-Lake Gwayi-Shangani sekuthethe isikhathi eside njalo sizakholwa seliphelile idamu leli, ngoba sikhuluma sisenzenje, uBulawayo kalamanzi eneleyo emadamu, khona okuyikho njalo okubuyisela intuthuko emuva.”
Olwela amalungelo oluntu uMnu. Vumani Ndlovu, ngomunye wabasola ijubane lonwabu okuqhutshwa ngalo inhlelo zeMandebeleni.
“Kulusizi esigabeni sakithi; inengi labantu liphilanzima. Akulazikolo, amanzi ahlanzekileyo lemigwaqo ecacayo intuthuko asiyazi. Sizwa bekhuluma kodwa asilakho esesithe sakuthola okuyintuthuko”
UMsekeli kamphathintambo wezokulima lezomkhathi, uMnu. Vangelis Haritatos ngomunye wabethekelele lindawo ukuyabona ukuqhubeka komsbenzi.
“Bengingakaze ngifike lapha ngizobona ukwakhiwa kweGwayi-Shangani, kodwa ngiyajabula ngomsebenzi olapha ngoba uzaletha intuthuko kanye lokutholisa uBulawayo amanzi.”
UMphathintambo we-Matabeleland North uMnu. Richard Moyo laye ube khona.
“Sikhangelele ukuba ukwakhiwa kwe-Lake Gwayi-Shangani kuphele, kuthuthukise impilo zabantu e-Binga Hwange, Lupane. Njalo sikhangelele ukuba lama-irrigation amane alakho ukuthuthukisa isigaba uBulawayo aze athole laye amanzi.”
UMqondisi weZimbabwe Tourism Authority emaNdebeleni uthi i-Lake Gwayi-Shangani ingaphela ukwakhiwa, izathuthukisa ibhizimusi lezokwethekelela ezweni, litholise labakuleli bhizimusi amanzi koBulawayo
“Sikhangelele ukusungulwa kwamabhizimusi ezokwethekelewa eMatabeleland North kanye lokutholisa amanzi koBulawayo kumabhizimusi afanayo okulakho ukuthuthukisa inani lezethekeli, lemali yakwamanye amazwe ezweni.”
Ukwakhiwa kwe-Lake Gwayi-Shangani kukhangelele ukuletha intuthuko emaNdebelen, ikakhulu kwezokulima lokutholisa inengi amanzi. Amadamu anathisa u-Bulawayo okwamanje alamanzi angaba yisilinganiso esedlula amatshumi amane lasithupha ekhulwini - 46%, ngakhoke ukwakhiwa kwe-Lake Gwayi-Shangani kulakho ukusiza ukusilela kwamamzi kulelidolobho, njalo kuvuselele lamabhizimusi ahlala ekhala ngokusilela kwamanzi.
