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Sunday, July 27, 2025
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Newly constructed dam collapses

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The newly constructed Kapako dam in Kawambwa  district has collapsed. The dam was constructed at a cost of K98million. Kawambwa district commissioner, Wilbroad Mumba has attributed the collapsing of the Kapako dam due to poor supervision during its construction.

Mr. Mumba has described the collapsing of some parts of the dam as an embarrassment and derailment of development in the district.

Mr. Mumba was speaking in Kawambwa during the heads of government departments meeting held in his office.

He noted that it is sad to find that the dam that was completed late last year have had some parts collapse adding that this was due to poor supervision.

Mr. Mumba explained that resources are being wasted and called for the involvement of the Planning sub-committee (PSC) if monitoring is to become successful.

He said the PSC is an important body in the district and that it should be involved in the supervision of all the projects being undertaken if shoddy works are to be avoided.

And District Administrative Officer (DAO), Mwita Kasengele said some projects especially in agriculture are internally monitored charging this was contributing to shoddy works.

Mr. Kasengele disclosed that the Kapako dam was constructed and only monitored by the Technical Service Branch (TSB) officers in the agriculture department.

He pointed out that officers should learn to share their  little allowances with members of the PSC as this will enable the projects to be well implemented.

The Kapako dam was constructed in a bid to benefit 400 farmers in the area.

In a related development, Muyembe dam of iyanga ward in Kawambwa district that was constructed in 2005 has also burst.

Mr. Mumba said water affairs office in Mansa has been informed about the development.

ZANIS/PS/ENDS/MM…

67 COMMENTS

  1. “He pointed out that officers should learn to share their little allowances with members of the PSC as this will enable the projects to be well implemented.”

    Mr Kasengele you mean Corruption?

  2. Awe!! this ia na embarrasmment. That is what happens when shoddy contractors are hired to do national projects.

  3. Nine Chale Ati shani bachikuli,jamaco nad the rest!! how is the afternoon

    chapapisha sana ine. At least after a year. Where are the govt inspectors from the ministry of works and supply?

  4. ni damu yashani iya 98million kwacha? obviously 70million yaile muma tumba and they used mud instead of cementi for koshaling the structure.

  5. Was it Chinese built? Trace the movement of cement it was used to build the house of the boss. Even in the bible to much sand in water is not recommended

  6. Here we go again, the Dam has collapsed. Oh my God, thats why I have been a serious critic of Most African Govt., and Zambia leads the way. Instead of taking them to court, they are just complaining. Atase, tatendwa, twatinka nabo.
    So after complaining, what next, he will share the spoils or loot with them then keep quite.

  7. Imwe this dam Collapses!! Are there any deaths?

    Such poor monitored investments can cause deaths!! Someone should be made accountable please!! Bakabolala pa Goverment bengi!! They are busy asking for funds from Zambians in Diaspora!! We are not dumn!! We know whats up!! Na ba Mayo balinjebele ati mwana wandi nga waya wikabwele. Ulentumina kofye iya kabwali! :d She is right and I trust her more that I trust RB!!

    A Govt.Official’s life pa Zed

    1. You fall ill = South Africa
    2. You Steal = Bail :d
    3. President’s wifey = Doctor title
    4. Donations from foreigners = In your pockets
    5. Budget 2009 (2% Donations + Money from New Passports)
    6. Investments = Only stay a year and then collapse

  8. I am sure it was done by a grade 9 class at Kawambwa Secondary School as a project in ‘DAM CONSTRUCTION’ and in the end they got 22 percent.

  9. Well this is what happens when you think of the chinese as “investors”. Kaya ni chifundo,kaya niku soba nzelu Boma lathu…

    Imagine how far that money would go in rehabilitating infrastructure at UTH so that ministers and ba “some of us” do not have to be evacuated even when badwala chifuba!!![-(

  10. surely a dam for 98million. nO wonder it colapsed!!!! What equipment was used for the construction or worse still was the dam designed and who did the design and supervision. Alot needs to be investigated :o:o:-w

  11. Pa Zed it’s very normal, people pretend to work and their employers
    pretend to pay them. Sir Roy Welensky please come back to life and take charge of this nation, we have failed lamentably.:((

  12. Poor Zambian engineers. cant hold a brick to give proper instructions. instead they they like holding a castle at Musana.com in Kabwata. now you see, the dam has collapsed because they were always drinking at Ntumbachushi

  13. Ba political Engineer ba VKC, help us, is this even normal..?

    Engine Bbuloko, this is what you are just from taking about..

    What a waste.!

  14. before you condemn the Engineers, 98million is very little money to make a dam. That is pocket change for some of us in Zimbabwe, just enough for jiggies :d

  15. More than 50 years ago, the Kariba dam was built. A mavelous piece of engineering that every Zambian Engineer must have visited at least once for inspiration. It is amazing that so many years down the road, we don’t seem to have leant anything even from what already exists! It is still a big struggle to put up a simple dam on a tiny river. Why do we seem to remain in the uneducated mediocre tinkering loop?

  16. He pointed out that officers should learn to share their little allowances with members of the PSC as this will enable the projects to be well implemented

    GRZ please check with this man hes corrupt and then check who is the engineer of the project.

  17. Ehe!! This is spiffy, absolutely spiffy! All hat, no cattle, thats Zed. We have seen their hats for far too long but where are their herds? I mean herds, not heads. Eya mukwai elyo nomboa bola yawama. They have started constructing dams with sand. What a shame. Soon, mukomfwa ati balilongolola ama pan bricks ku London ati ni copper yifumine ku Zambia kanshi malabisi!!!!

  18. The govt must tell the nation who constructed that dam. Those that constructed it must redo it at their own expense. This is utter rubish.

  19. it´s a shame if this is the way constructions of infrustures in Zed are been handled,no wonder some tym back i overhead Teta jumping up
    and down on a newly built bridge,figure out it was the only way he could do the inspection thing 😕

  20. I wonder K98m isnt enough a dam of how many cubic?cheap costing! give competent qualified staff.In civil engineering not accepted,meet the standard & costing then meet guarant still under contracor he is going to do it dont worry.

  21. This is typical corruption at its worst. The council management and other relevant authorities should get to the bottom of the matter. Zambians when are going to learn Top soldiers and Shushushus are being sent to the Jukus and the dooe awaits our Dr. FTJ yet others are busy plundering public resources. May be we should ask the Muslim community seating on NCC to include Sharia Law to sort out and bring this scourage to an end. Every where same same. Mweye bantu twapapata.

  22. I see these chaps blaming poor supervision of works, do they mean quality assurance? And this other Kapako guy blames it on non sharing of allowances, funny ehh? Simple solution is, only pay for works once commissioned and quality assured. Anything shoddy has to be redone or penalise the contractor in monetary terms including repayment of project costs.

  23. Greetings to you all.This is former jelita,now Maria K.To all Zambians around here,take note that on 14th of this month some one is coming from the Embassy of Zambia Germany to conduct Consular clinics in order to allow Zambians to submit their application forms.If you dont have forms yet,contact me at [email protected]
    Please tel others who may not be aware of the development
    especialy the Bandas,Tembos,Phiris,Mwales,Mbewes im sure they were sleeping.I know the Mutales,Mulengas,Mwambas got the information.Stay blessed **==

  24. “Kawambwa district commissioner, Wilbroad Mumba has attributed the collapsing of the Kapako dam due to poor supervision during its construction.” What about the design and materials used? Or were the workers just left to their own devices? And since it’s newly constructed, is there a requirement (as there should be) for the contructor to remedy their shoddy work. No point just talking. Take them to task.

  25. Ba Mumba, I’m sorry but the blame buck stops at your door-step. You must be fired!!! As you rightly say, that it was due to poor supervision. YOu are not competent enough to supervise even small projects such as K98million dam. You SHOULD be embarrassed. :-t:(

  26. “The newly constructed Kapako dam in Kawambwa district has collapsed. The dam was constructed at a cost of K98million. Kawambwa district commissioner, Wilbroad Mumba has attributed the collapsing of the Kapako dam due to poor supervision during its construction…. In a related development, Muyembe dam of iyanga ward in Kawambwa district that was constructed in 2005 has also burst.”

    Bring the constructors to re-do the work which was shoddy properly. Who offered them the contract? What were the terms of the contract regarding quality of the bridges? Let us not hire companies because some relative of ours owns them, but on grounds that they can perform wonders!

  27. 56. kokolio

    You really do not want that one to be translated!!

    Ninsele in German imwe!! I have never seen such insults pa LT!! But the best thing is no one understands!! :o:o

  28. Common people! In Zed, one cannot build a good house for K98million! With the price of reinfircement steel and concrete, how can anyone build a decent dam for K98 million?? Gabbage! This was a toy dam and no surprises here as far as I am concerned!

  29. Whoever supervised the construction of the two dams that collapsed should be prosecuted sooner than later! How will we develop, shuwa?

  30. A standard house in Long Acres can set you back K250m, so how does a dam cost K98m?

    Anyway, if there was a contract in place then unless the company has since gone bust, this is a non-issue, they should be held to the terms of the contract and the dam will rise again with K98m as paid in the original settlement and the balance being funded out of the company’s own resources. The Government should spare no effort in ensuring that this time, the reconstructed dam will meet the appropriate standards for safety and engineering integrity.

  31. 58. JAMACO

    On your advice, na leka! Nomba you have just whetted my curiosity, but nga ni nsele let’s leave it there. Thanx.

  32. this sad development has reminded of the THE NYINI POEM which goes like this:

    Oh nhini! Oh my nyini!
    Usabisa koma sindiwe dam,
    ulira koma sindiwe widow,
    uma nira koma sindiwe bobocani,
    uthentha koma sindiwe moto, u
    nzuna koma sindiwe sugar.
    Oh… nyini yanga

  33. Lesa tabepwa… yawa gwaaaaaa… total collapse in the sight of man.

    RB… Investigate and let the culprits pay. :([-([-x

    No bail until the dam is fortified.

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