Luanda: President Joo Louren§o will travel to the southern province of Cunene on Friday for a working visit that includes the inauguration of the Ndºe and Calucuve dams, two pivotal projects designed to mitigate the effects of drought in southern Angola.
According to Angola Press News Agency, these infrastructures are expected to enhance water availability and improve living conditions for communities impacted by drought in the region. The inauguration ceremonies will feature F©lix Tshisekedi, President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as a special guest, announced by the Secretary to the President for Institutional Communication and Press Affairs, Lus Fernando.
On the initial day, President Louren§o will also inaugurate youth-focused infrastructure, an initiative led by the Ngana Zenza Foundation for Community Development, under the patronage of First Lady Ana Dias Louren§o. Following the ceremonies, President Tshisekedi will return to Kinshasa, while President Louren§o will head back to Luanda after concluding his visit.
For the Angolan Executive, the dams symbolize not only enhanced water access but also socio-economic growth, job creation, and a reduction in waterborne diseases, among other benefits. The Ndºe Dam, situated in the Cuvelai River basin, spans 1,500 meters and stands at 32.80 meters high, featuring a 75-kilometer canal network and 15 chimpacas. It occupies 17.14 square kilometers and has a storage capacity of 170 million cubic meters, providing water to 55,000 residents, 60,000 cattle, and irrigating 9,200 hectares of land. This project was completed over five years at a cost of US$192 million.
The Calucuve Dam, measuring 31.60 meters in height and 2,184 meters in length, includes a reservoir with a capacity of 141 million cubic meters, a 240-kilometer feeder canal, and 22 chimpacas. It links to a canal network extending 111 kilometers, with an additional 22 chimpacas along the Calucuve-Ondjiva route. This initiative, costing US$177 million, will supply water to over 80,000 people and nearly 200,000 cattle. Additionally, it has opened 28 kilometers of rural roads for agricultural and livestock development.
The Programme to Combat the Effects of Drought in Southern Angola (PCESSA) previously saw the inauguration of the Cafu Water Transfer System in 2022, benefiting 235,000 people, 250,000 animals, and irrigating 5,000 hectares. The system's feeder canal, valued at AOA 44,358,360,651, stretches 165 kilometers and includes 30 chimpacas for livestock.
Under the same program, construction is ongoing for the Hita Hita Dam on the Cunene River's right bank. This mixed-structure dam will stand at 34.5 meters high, storing 58.6 million cubic meters of water, and is estimated to cost US$126 million, with a completion target of July 2027. It will include a 98-kilometer pipeline to supply Cahama and Curoca communities.
Cunene Province, home to 1,806,417 people, comprises 273 villages, 10 communes, and 14 municipalities, including Cuanhama, Cahama, and Cuvelai, among others.
