JUST IN: Rains push up water levels in dams

Ellen Chasokela Herald Reporter
Water levels in some major dams have started improving following the recent rainfall activity across the country.

River flows have also started improving, leading to a positive change in dam levels.

Improved flows have been noted in major rivers such as Save, Runde, Pungwe, Dewure and Odzi.

Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) corporate communications and marketing manager Mrs Marjorie Munyonga said as at December 13, 2019, the national dam level average stood at 50 percent, representing a 0,23 percent jump since the beginning of that week.

“Gwayi Catchment has a dam level average of 38,5 percent, Mazowe 76 percent, Manyame 74,6 percent, Mzingwane 46,2 percent, Runde 40,6 percent, Sanyati 49,8 percent and Save 57,1 percent.

“Improvements in water levels have been recorded in Chivero, Antelope, Bangazaani, Pollards, Ngwenya, Lungwalala, Harava and Upper Ncema dams,” she said.

Despite the gains, ZINWA continues to appeal to water consumers to use the available water “very sparingly”.

Mrs Munyonga said those using raw water from ZINWA-managed dams should ensure that their water use is in terms of water abstraction agreements as required by the law.

In the Gwayi catchment, Bubi-Lupane is 38 percent, Exchange is 17,5 percent, Pollards is 75,3 percent, Insukhamini is 53,8 percent and Ngwenya is 60,5 percent full.

All the dams are for water supply and irrigation.

Under the Mazowe catchment, Mazowe Dam which is used for irrigation is 44,1 percent full while Rufaro, used for both water supply and irrigation, is 95,9 percent full.

In Mzingwane, Mundi Mataga and Zhovhe dams which are for irrigation are 69,4 percent and 56,4 percent respectively while Insiza Dam is 40,0 percent and Mtshabezi Dam is 61,6 percent full and both dams are for irrigation and water supply.

In Runde catchment, the dams for irrigation are Tugwi Mukosi which is 38,7 percent full, Manjirenji (59,4percent) and Bangala (12,9 percent) while Chivero and Manyame dams in the Manyame catchment are 59,5 percent and 77,2 percent full respectively.