[3] The project should increase the secure supply of water for Gaborone, Francistown, and towns and villages along the north–south route for the foreseeable future.

[5] The reservoir may also attract tourists drawn by wildlife, water sports and local food, if facilities are developed.

A 58 kilometres (36 mi) long grout curtain incorporating 6,700 tonnes of cement was needed to seal against leakage.

[7] The main spillway is a concrete ogee structure 200 metres (660 ft) long with energy dissipators, on the upper left flank of the dam about 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) north of the river.

The project also included building housing and power supply, and upgrading 44 kilometres (27 mi) of road between the villages of Mmadinare and Robelela.

[8] Before construction could begin, the bodies of people buried in the Matopi and Robelela villages had to be exhumed and relocated.

The government also arranged for counselling services on AIDS both to construction workers and to residents of the Mmadinare, Robelela, Matopi, Matsiloje, Chokwe and Patayamatebele villages.

[5] At times, the language barrier caused problems, when the engineers were unsure whether the contractor understood what was required, since interpreters without technical training were being used.

Final closure of the diversion channel and the spillway was scheduled for October 2012 in time to start impounding the wet season's rains.

The contractors, China State Construction Engineering Corp and the local Excavator Hire, had 350 employees, 75 of whom were Chinese.