From 2009 to 2013, during the challenging era of Zimbabwe’s Government of National Unity (GNU), one cabinet post arguably held the weight of the nation’s survival: the Ministry of Water Resources Development and Management. At its helm was Dr. Samuel Sipepa Nkomo. His tenure was not a smooth flow, but a torrent of crises, political battles, and seemingly insurmountable infrastructure challenges.

Here is a look back at the years, projects, and the staggering difficulties that defined his time as Minister.

🗓️ The Tenure: A Time of National Thirst (2009–2013)

Dr. Sipepa Nkomo stepped into the role in February 2009 and served through the GNU period, ending in mid-2013. His mandate was Herculean: to reverse decades of neglect and halt a public health disaster.

🏗️ The Projects: A Race Against Time and Drought

Though no single, definitive list of “dams he presided over” exists, the fate of the nation’s most vital water projects rested on his desk. His focus was clear: bring long-term water security to the arid Matabeleland region and prevent total collapse in the capital, Harare.

  • The Matabeleland Zambezi Water Project (MZWP): This became Nkomo’s signature battle. He wrestled control of the century-old, yet unfinished, project from a local trust, arguing it must remain a national government initiative to secure the necessary financing. The centerpiece of this grand vision was the Gwayi-Shangani Dam.
  • Mtshabezi Dam Pipeline: His team was under immense pressure to fast-track the connection of this pipeline to Bulawayo’s main supply to provide desperately needed short-term relief from the city’s crippling water rationing.
  • Bubi-Lupane Dam: He was instrumental in commissioning this dam, a crucial milestone in providing water access to parts of Matabeleland North.
  • Tokwe-Mukosi Dam: Even years later, Nkomo expressed regret over the failure during his tenure to execute the planned, humane relocation of villagers from the dam basin, an oversight that later led to a humanitarian crisis when the dam overflowed.

💥 The Turbulence: Five Major Challenges

Dr. Nkomo’s efforts were constantly undermined by powerful systemic, financial, and even bizarre obstacles:

1. The Financial Black Hole

In a country emerging from hyperinflation, Nkomo openly admitted that his ministry was severely underfunded, often receiving less than 50% of the funds required. Massive projects like the MZWP required over US$1 billion, forcing the government into heavy reliance on foreign donors and lenders, which created significant delays.

2. Infrastructure Collapse and Public Health Crisis

Nkomo inherited an archaic system that was literally killing people. The deadly 2008-2009 cholera epidemic was a direct result of collapsing water and sanitation systems. He spent his years fighting to rehabilitate boreholes, secure water treatment chemicals, and simply keep taps running in cities like Bulawayo, which saw residents endure water rationing that stretched to 96 hours without supply.

3. Political and Bureaucratic Warfare

His fight to nationalize the MZWP and secure an audit of funds previously channeled to the local Matabeleland Zambezi Water Trust (MZWT) turned into a nasty public spat. Furthermore, he often found himself in confrontations with local City Councils (such as Bulawayo) and even the Ministry of Finance over the release of funds and project execution timelines.

4. The Drought and Climate Change

Exacerbating all other issues was the cruel reality of low rainfall. Drought conditions left major supply reservoirs critically depleted, turning his task from one of maintenance to crisis management, where water rationing became the norm across major cities.

5. The Mermaid Problem (A True Zimbabwean Challenge)

Perhaps the most unusual challenge reported during his time was the claim that mermaids (njuzu) were harassing construction workers at sites like the Osborne Dam and in Gokwe. Nkomo took the matter seriously, telling a Senate committee that chiefs would have to perform traditional rituals to appease the spirits—an event that highlighted the unique cultural and practical complexities of governing water resources in Zimbabwe.

Dr. Sipepa Nkomo, during his tenure as the Minister of Water Resources Development and Management, was involved in various high-level meetings both domestically and internationally regarding dam projects and water security, particularly in the Matabeleland region.

Here are some of the key meetings and discussions related to dams:

1. Meetings on the Matabeleland Zambezi Water Project (MZWP) and Gwayi-Shangani Dam

  • Discussions with Chinese Contractors (July 2012):
    • He announced that Chinese contractors had signed an agreement to start constructing the 245 km water pipeline from the Gwayi-Shangani Dam to Bulawayo, after securing $864 million in funding from the Chinese Export and Import Bank.
    • The Chinese contractors were scheduled to meet with water resources officials to finalize technical issues related to the pipeline. [July 13, 2012]
  • Cabinet and MZWT Dispute (2011):
    • He was involved in a major dispute with the Matabeleland Zambezi Water Project Trust (MZWT) over a forensic audit of government funds injected into the project. He stated that the “fight over the audit” would be referred to Cabinet to decide on the investigation’s path.

2. Meetings on the Bulawayo Water Crisis and Existing Dams (Mtshabezi Dam)

 

  • Bulawayo Crisis Meeting with Residents (October 2012):
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    He held a special meeting with Bulawayo residents and civic society organizations to discuss the crippling water shortages in the city.6 The meeting covered the government’s efforts to expedite the connection of the Mtshabezi Dam to reduce water shedding hours.7 [October 26, 2012]

  • MDC-T Provincial Council and City Councillors Meetings (September 2012):8

     

    • He was in Bulawayo for crisis meetings with the MDC-T Provincial Council to address the severe water situation and the bad publicity faced by the MDC-T-led City Council.
    • He also met with city councillors in the council chambers to discuss the water woes. [September 2012]
  • Zimbabwe Water Investment Conference (April 2013):
    • He hosted this conference in Bulawayo to attract both local and international investors for various water sector projects, including dam construction, stating there were 23 viable projects worth about US$2 billion in need of financing.

3. International and Development Meetings

 

  • Meetings with Chinese Counterparts (June 2012):
    • As part of a delegation with Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, he met with the Chinese Water Resources Minister, Chen Lei, to discuss massive Chinese investment in Zimbabwe’s water and power infrastructure.
    • Topics included hydro-electric projects, such as a potential 3,000-megawatt project at the Takanda Dam.
    • He also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Chinese government for a Chinese company to engage in projects including irrigation.15 [June 2012]

      Meetings with Botswana (October 2012):

      • He was in Botswana with the Prime Minister to discuss, among other issues, a joint water project and a request by Botswana to extract water from the Zambezi River.17 He stated he would hold a meeting with his Botswana counterpart soon to discuss the matter further.

        4. Bubi-Lupane Dam Commissioning

  • Dam Commissioning Delegation (June 2012):18

    He was part of the Prime Minister’s delegation that officially commissioned the Bubi-Lupane dam.19 This public event marked the opening of the dam, with Nkomo speaking to the media about the relief it would bring to the population. [June 28, 2012]

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