Kenya: Ngilu Tells of Plan to Build 16 Big Dams - The Kenyan Government plans to build 16 large dams in the next 10 years to address the perennial water shortage in the country, Water minister Charity Ngilu said on Saturday. [AA Construction]

Botswana: Primary Works to Start At Letsibogo Tourism Project - The Selebi-Phikwe Economic Diversification Unit (SPEDU) hopes to secure P13 million for the development of preliminary works in support of tourism activities around Letsibogo Dam in Mmadinare. [AA Urbanisation]

Nigeria: Sokoto Demands Completion of Goronyo, Shagari Dams - The Federal Government has been urged to hasten the completion of the Goronyo Dam and Shagari Earth Dam projects. Governor Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, who was represented by the Deputy Governor Barrister Muktari Shehu Shagari, made the call at the second zonal consultative meeting on inclusive national budgeting held in Sokoto yesterday. Declaring the event open at the Sokoto House of Assembly, the Deputy Governor remarked that the consultative meeting was of high national significance. [AA Construction]

Botswana: Dikgatlhong Dam Behind Schedule - The construction of Dikgatlhong Dam, which is expected to alleviate the water problem countrywide, is eight months behind schedule. [AA Urbanisation]

Eritrea: Anseba Region - a Number of Micro-Dams, Water Reservoirs and Wells Constructed - In continuation of the coordinated efforts being made in Anseba region to provide reliable potable water supply to the people, a number of micro-dams, water reservoirs and wells have been constructed in different parts of the region at an expenditure of about 25 million Nakfa. [AA Construction]

Cameroon: Fears for Forest As Dam Construction Begins - Crouched on a low, wooden stool in front of his mud hut in the village of Pangar, Alain Selembe puffs away at his clay pipe, his gaze lost in the surrounding forest, quite oblivious to the noise made by his two playing daughters. All he hears is the rumbling of bulldozers opening up a 30 kilometre road from Deng Deng village to the confluence of the Lom and Pangar rivers, where the government plans to construct a new dam. [AA Construction]

Congo-Kinshasa: Bidding Opened On DRC's Inga 3 Hydroelectric Project - The long-delayed Inga 3 hydroelectric project looks set to get under way, as the Democratic Republic of Congo opens bidding for investors, reports Engineering News. [AA Construction]

Angola: Russia Funds Construction of Two Dams - Russia will fund the construction of two dams in Angola, to be built in Kwanza River, corridor of the northern Malanje/Kwanza Norte provinces, in the framework of the existing economic and commercial relations between both countries. [AA Construction]

By Thabo Mohale

Twelve households will have to relocate when the dam reservoir floods this valley.

The construction of a two billion dollar dam in Metolong, some 35 kilometres outside of Lesotho's capital Maseru, is being welcomed by people in and around the city who will gain access to clean and safe drinking water when construction is completed in 2013.

But for 250 rural families who will lose access to land and natural resources - some will be forced to relocate to make way for roads, power lines and other infrastructural development during construction - the dam is bad news.

Botswana: Thune Dam Construction for 2010 - Residents of this village have been told that the construction of Thune Dam is expected to commence in February 2010. [AA Construction]

Angola: Country and Namibia Name Firm to Implement Dam Project - The governments of Angola and Namibia have appointed the international consulting firm ERM-Environmental Resources Management to implement the joint hydroelectric project of Baynes, in Cunene River basin. [AA Urbanisation]