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Sad thing is that nothing will happen ... they will cont. to build the dam ... complete it and "our" boys and girls will have to find the solution to it ...

It's issues like this that causes me to despise the human race ... only thinking about themselves.

The Massingir Dam, which is located immediately downstream of the border with South Africa on the Olifants River, was built by Mozambique in terms of an agreement
reached in 1971 between the Governments of Portugal and South Africa. The dam was not initially constructed to the full supply level stipulated in the agreement.
Mozambique is currently preparing to raise the level of Massingir Dam by 10 metres (in accordance with the 1971 agreement). Importantly, the agreement also states that the Government of Portugal realises that the water resources of the Olifants River at the boundary with Mozambique will decrease progressively and substantially in the future, as and when South Africa implements further storage in the Olifants River basin.

In addition to its physical location, the proposed development will influence a wider area, in particular, water users downstream on the lower Olifants River.

Dam threatens breeding grounds of the Nile crocodile
By David Blair, in Kruger National Park

(Filed: 10/07/2006)

In the shadow of towering cliffs streaked with yellow and red, Nile crocodiles bask beside the swirling waters of Olifants gorge.

This corner of Kruger National Park, one of South Africa's premier attractions, serves as an ideal breeding ground for hundreds of crocodiles. They dig nests in sandy river banks along the eight-mile gorge, laying about 50 eggs each.

But much of this vista - and countless nests - will soon disappear under water. Thirty miles upstream in neighbouring Mozambique, work has begun on raising the Massingir dam, a project that will increase the gorge's water level by about 30ft.

At a stroke, the crocodiles will lose a major breeding ground and the natural beauty of one of Africa's most famous national parks, which attracts a million visitors every year, will be diminished.

Nile crocodiles are not facing extinction. They are found in rivers, lakes, swamps, and freshwater marshes across most of sub-Saharan Africa, the Kruger being the southern extent of their range. They appear on the world conservation union's "red list" of endangered species and trade in their hides is banned.

If Kruger, one of Africa's best protected national parks, cannot safeguard them, conservationists say their future is bleak. "Crocodiles are persecuted all over Africa," said Lawrence Anthony, the founder of the Earth Organisation ecological group. "This is one of the world's most famous protected areas. We can't afford to lose a major breeding ground. "

The Mozambican authorities did not consult Kruger about raising the dam. The park has not been officially informed when work will be finished - even though one of its safari lodges is also expected to be flooded.

Constantly growing numbers of poverty-stricken people surround every national park in Africa. Even if poaching is reduced to minimal levels, as Kruger has managed to accomplish, the wildlife can still be threatened by developments outside. When complete, the Massingir dam will provide water to tens of thousands of subsistence farmers. If the interests of human beings clash with those of Nile crocodiles and an area of outstanding beauty, the Mozambican authorities have no doubt about whose should take precedence.

The dam could be raised by a smaller amount to allow some crocodile breeding areas to survive. But nobody discussed a possible compromise with Kruger. The park authorities say there has been no cross-border co-operation and as far as they know, Mozambique did not even conduct an impact assessment.

"We understand that people over the border need water and they need help," said Raymond Travers, a spokesman for Kruger park. "We have had very good co-operation with the Mozambican side in the past but it was not forthcoming this time."

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I've created a map using Google Earth showing this area in relation to the Olifant Camp and Gorge which helps to orientate people to this potential destruction of these important breeding grounds. To see the map click here
This page also quotes the questions and answers posed in Parliament