The Sunday Mail
Wallace Ruzvidzo
Sunday Mail Correspondent
SOME of the country’s major dams have started recording increases in water levels, while a few have already reached full capacity on account of the ongoing wet spell being experienced countrywide.
According to the latest data from the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa), the average national dam level stood at 77,3 percent as at December 30, marginally higher than the 59,7 percent average expected at this time of the year.
Zinwa corporate communications and marketing manager Mrs Marjorie Munyonga said the water currently held in the dams is sufficient to support this summer’s irrigation requirements.
“Dam levels in some parts of the country have started rising in response to the wet spell that the country has been experiencing in the past days,” said Mrs Munyonga.
“Positive changes in dam levels have been recorded in dams in Mashonaland East, Bulawayo, Matabeleland North, Midlands and Matabeleland South provinces. Dams such as Khami, Insiza, Mtshabezi, Zhovhe, Antelope, Tshangwa and Ngwenya Dams have started spilling.
“Dam level increases have been noted in 19,7 percent of the country’s major dams with 10,69 percent of the same actually recording declines.
“No changes were recorded in the rest of the dams, which constitute the remaining 69,7 percent.”
She advised farmers involved in irrigation to approach local Zinwa service centres and sign water abstraction agreements.
Dams in the Gwayi catchment area have recorded a notable rise in water levels with some having already reached full capacity.
Bubi-Lupane Dam is 67,9 percent full, Ngwenya Dam is 102,3 percent full, Insukamini is at 74,4 percent, Pollards is 100 percent full, while Khami and Exchange are 99,7 and 19,2 percent full respectively.
Those under the Manyame catchment area have also witnessed increased inflows with Chivero Dam, which is used for irrigation and water supply to Norton and Harare at 80,1 percent full, while Manyame (58,3 percent), Harava (16,9 percent), Biri (83,7 percent) and Mazvikadei (61,5 percent) have all witnessed increased inflows.
Mazowe Dam, which is used for irrigation purposes, is 8,7 percent full, Kushinga-Phikhelela is at 63,7 percent and Masembura has reached 89,5 percent capacity. Under the Mzingwane catchment area, most dams including Mtshabezi (66,3 percent), Upper Ncema (22,5 percent), Lower Ncema (81,4 percent), Zhovhe (86,8 percent), Insiza (66,3 percent) and Antelope (39,9 percent) have recorded increased inflows.
Dam levels in the Runde catchment, most of which provide water to irrigate sugarcane, have also increased including Tugwi-Mukosi (93 percent), Bangala (24,2 percent), Manjirenji (78,1 percent), Mutirikwi (90,8 percent), Gwenoro (91,6 percent) and Amapongokwe (90,7 percent).
