The Government has commissioned the Mutwe Wamuntu Dam in Kalomo District and the Hajamba Dam in Pemba District, Southern Province, reaffirming its commitment to strengthening water security, enhancing climate resilience and improving livelihoods through strategic investments in water infrastructure.
Speaking during the commissioning ceremonies, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation, Eng. Romas Kamanga, said the two projects demonstrate Government’s continued investment in water infrastructure as a foundation for sustainable socio-economic development and improved resilience to climate change.
The Mutwe Wamuntu Dam was constructed at a cost of ZMW 11.85 million, with a storage capacity of 2.73 million cubic metres and a height of 14.3 metres. The project is expected to directly benefit approximately 18,200 people and provide water for more than 15,732 livestock. It will support domestic water supply, irrigation, livestock production, fisheries and other productive activities in Kalomo District and surrounding communities.
In Pemba District, the Hajamba Dam was constructed at approximately ZMW 10.5 million. Standing at 15.5 metres high, the dam has a storage capacity of approximately 530,000 cubic metres and is expected to directly benefit an estimated 3,118 people, while providing water for more than 24,010 livestock. The infrastructure will also create opportunities for irrigation farming, aquaculture and other income-generating activities.
Eng. Kamanga emphasised that the two dams are more than water storage facilities, describing them as investments in food security, climate resilience and economic transformation. Reliable water availability will enable communities to sustain agricultural production, livestock and other productive activities throughout the year while reducing vulnerability to prolonged dry spells and erratic rainfall.
The Permanent Secretary further called on communities, traditional leaders, local authorities and other stakeholders to take ownership of the infrastructure by protecting the dams and their catchment areas, promoting responsible water use and ensuring proper maintenance. He stressed that the long-term benefits of the investments will depend on effective management, environmental protection and community stewardship.
The commissioning of the two dams is aligned with the Eighth National Development Plan, which recognises water security as a key driver of economic growth, food security, climate resilience and improved livelihoods. Government remains committed to expanding investments in dams, water harvesting infrastructure and other strategic water resources projects across the country to support Zambia’s socio-economic transformation.
The Ministry also commended the Zambia National Service, contractor Reliance Energy Limited, engineers, consultants, Government institutions, traditional leaders, cooperating institutions and local communities for their contribution to the successful delivery of the projects. The commissioning ceremonies were also marked by a tribute to the late Dr. Namani Monze, former Provincial Permanent Secretary for Southern Province, whose dedicated public service was recognised as an enduring legacy of commitment to the people of Zambia.
Through investments such as Mutwe Wamuntu and Hajamba dams, Government continues to lay the foundation for a water-secure, climate-resilient and economically productive Zambia, while creating opportunities for improved livelihoods and sustainable development in rural communities.
By: Ministry of Water Development and Sanitation-PR Unit
