Cyclone Ana has damaged part of the infrastructure for the multi-billion kwacha Shire Valley Transformation Programme (SVTP) in Chikwawa district.

Speaking in an interview on Thursday, SVTP engineer Martin Chizalema said the roads to the site where they are constructing the intake have been rendered impassable after Mwambezi Bridge and some parts of the Chikwawa–Kapichira road were washed away while the damage to Majete Road compelled them to use drones for preliminary damage assessments.

Part of the damaged area after the overflow

He said apart from using the drones, engineers from the project, the contractor, and the consulting engineer, KRC, walked to the site to make a physical assessment. The assessment is ongoing and recovery measures are being discussed to ensure resumption of works.

Chizalema said: “The flooding that took place at Kapichira Dam affected our infrastructure. The excess water that was coming through the Shire River completely washed away the dyke which is supposed to drain the river course for the Shire River. 

“Because of the washing away of the dyke, the flow went straight to our intake structure, thereby also washing away the coffer dam which is supposed to protect the construction works at the intake. As a result, one of the newly-constructed wing walls collapsed because of excess sedimentation from the water.”

He said the intake foundation is intact although there is some damage to the right-wing wall and the siphon works which have shifted.

“The main canal which is almost completed is intact with very minimal damages; the flume has not been affected, two bridges along the canal are intact and crosses have not been affected,” he said.

The engineer said the project team met with officials from Electricity Generation Company (Egenco), the contractor and the consultant to map the way forward in terms of recovery.  They have agreed to first repair the roads to allow access to the dam and repair the Kapichira Dam.

The first phase of the project covers 52 kilometres from the intake at Kapichira Dam to Lengwe in Chikwawa district and it is expected to be completed by December 2023. The intake of the main canal is being constructed by Conduril Egenharia while Sinohydro will construct the main canals for 46 kilometres.

The first phase of SVTP is being funded by the World Bank, Africa Development Bank, the Global Environment Facility, the Opec Fund for International Development and the Malawi Government to the tune of $223 million.

Once completed, 43 370 hectares are expected to benefit about 223 000 farmers in Chikwawa and Nsanje.

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