Lungu launches US$ 28m dam

President Edgar Lungu

President Edgar Lungu has launched the construction of what will be the largest dam in the history of the country’s agriculture sector at a total cost of US$ 28 million.

Mwomboshi dam in Chisamba district will be constructed by Anhui Foreign Economic Construction Company Limited of China within a period of 30 months.

Speaking during the launch of the project and laying of the foundation stone today, President Lungu says Mwomboshi dam will have the capacity to store 65 million cubic metres of water with a dam wall of 1,700 metres long and 23 metres high.

He says at its full capacity, the dam will cover a distance of about 10 kilometres.

President Lungu states that the dam investment is good for the people of Mwomboshi as it is intended to increase agriculture production.

The Head of State adds that the people of Mwomboshi will benefit immensely from the project as they will not only be able to irrigate their various crops and pasture throughout the year, but will also have access to water for their livestock and fisheries, as well as for recreation purposes.

And speaking at the same function, World Bank country Manager Ina Ruthenberg says the project will be financed through a $115 million World Bank credit with very soft conditions under the irrigation development and support project over a seven year period.

And speaking earlier, Agriculture Minister Given Lubinda said two more irrigation schemes are expected to be commissioned this year.