Andrew
Wallace Ruzvidzo
Sunday Mail Correspondent
WATER levels in the country’s major dams have remained unchanged on account of the current prolonged dry spell, high temperatures and resultant decline in inflows.
Zimbabwe National Water Authority’s (Zinwa) corporate communications and marketing manager Mrs Marjorie Munyonga told The Sunday Mail that the average national dam levels currently stand at 90 percent, marginally higher than the 71,8 percent expected during this time of the year.
She said some major dams are below 50 percent capacity and they may be unable to support socio-economic activities.
“As at March 14, 2022, the national dam level average stood at 90,2 percent,” said Mrs Munyonga.
“The national dam level average however, remains higher than the 71,8 percent expected during this period of the year.
“While the outlook appears favourable at a national scale, there are major dams which are still below 50 percent and will not be able to support the necessary socio-economic activities in the absence of further inflows.
“These include Mzingwane (8,4 percent), Mazowe Dam (42,5 percent), Tshongokwe (34,6 percent) and Clifton Dam (30, 95 percent).”
She said a total of 53,2 percent of rural and urban centres are raw water secure, with their water supply dams holding water sufficient for the next 21 months.
“At least 44,7 percent of the rural and urban centres have their water supply dams holding water sufficient for a period of 12 and 20,9 months.
“Those rural and urban centres with dams holding less than 12 months of supplies constitute 4,3 percent,” Mrs Munyonga said.
She said all irrigating farmers and other raw water users who intend to draw water from Zinwa managed dams are advised to start lodging applications with their respective service centres and catchments for water reservations ahead of the winter cropping season.
“These applications will lead to the signing of water abstraction agreements between Zinwa and the water users and help Zinwa to efficiently plan and allocate the limited water resources available,” Mrs Munyonga said.
Dams under the Gwayi catchment area which are mainly used for irrigation and water supply are almost full with Khami at 97,8 capacity, Pollards 96,1 percent, Insukamini 98,7 percent, Ngwenya 94,2 percent, Bubi-Lupane 80,5 percent and Exchange 91,5 percent.
Those under the Manyame catchment area have notable amounts of water with some at full capacity.
Chivero is 100,4 percent full, Manyame (75 percent), Harava (100 percent), Biri (89,8 percent) and Mazvikadei (73,3 percent).
Under the Mazowe catchment area, Mazowe dam is 42,5 percent full, Kushinga-Phikhelela (91,1 percent) and Masembura (100 percent).
Online Reporter