Although the project has not yet been approved – the two countries are still in the early stages of discussing a feasibility study. Nevertheless, the proposed investment is already raising hopes of improved conditions for several industrial sectors in South Africa, while offering Zimbabwe an opportunity to generate additional long-term revenue.

The biggest challenge is the river’s highly variable flow

The Thuli is part of the Shashe River basin, which supplies the Limpopo – one of southern Africa’s most important rivers. The Limpopo continues toward Mozambique, where it flows into the Indian Ocean.

The biggest challenge in building the dam would be the exceptionally high variability of river flows. Official data from South Africa’s Department of Water and Sanitation show that the Limpopo’s flow can remain very low for many months and then rise sharply during the rainy season. South Africa continuously monitors the river’s flow at the Beit Bridge measuring station.

This is precisely why the reservoir may have greater economic importance than its capacity suggests. The dam would allow water to be stored during periods of higher flow and used later, when supplies are lower.

This is particularly important for the Musina-Makhado Special Economic Zone. The zone is intended to attract, among others, metallurgical and processing industries, as well as other activities that require large amounts of energy and water.

Without a stable water source, some of the planned investments may face difficulties in securing the necessary infrastructure.

The scale of the project would be significantly larger than similar projects in the past

Zimbabwe and South Africa have cooperated on water projects in the past. In 2024, the governments of both countries signed an agreement to supply 15 million m³ of treated water annually to Musina from a treatment plant in Beitbridge. South Africa described this as a temporary solution to the city’s water supply problems.

Thuli-Moswa, however, would be a project on an entirely different scale – it would potentially involve an annual water transfer six times greater than that specified in the current agreement. For Zimbabwe, the dam would mean potential long-term revenue; for South Africa, it would ensure the water resources necessary for further industrial development.

If the project is approved, preparations for the investment are expected to take around 18 months, followed by another three years of construction.