Online Reporter
Rutendo Nyeve, Victoria Falls Reporter
THE nation’s water security outlook has improved significantly, with the national dam level average rising to 85.6 percent as of January 14, 2026, up from 63.8 percent recorded during the same period last year.
The Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) has attributed the marked improvement to the ongoing rains being received across most parts of the country.
In a statement released on Thursday, ZINWA said the water security position is expected to strengthen further as more rainfall is anticipated in the coming weeks.
The improvement places Zimbabwe in a stronger position to meet domestic water requirements for major urban centres and to support irrigation needs ahead of the upcoming winter cropping season.
ZINWA also reported that an increasing number of dams are now full and spilling, including major reservoirs such as Tugwi-Mukosi, Manyuchi, Gwenoro, Zhovhe and Rusape, among others.
While the national outlook is highly encouraging, the authority provided a mixed but improving picture for the Bulawayo metropolitan area. The city’s dams have recorded a 4.4 percent increase since the onset of the rainy season, with the current average now standing at 40.8 percent, up from 28.2 percent during the same period in 2025.
ZINWA Head of Corporate Communications and Marketing, Mrs Marjorie Munyonga, described the figures as a positive development for the country’s overall water security.
“The country’s water security position continues to register positive gains on account of the rains being received in most parts of the country. This development places the country in better stead to meet the domestic water requirements for major cities and towns, as well as the irrigation needs for the impending winter cropping season,” she said.
The improved dam levels come as a welcome relief to farmers, local authorities and households, promising greater stability in water supplies and improved agricultural productivity.
The data points to a successful recharge season so far, raising hopes of reduced water rationing and a more secure winter farming period. ZINWA said it remains optimistic that dam levels will continue to firm up, further strengthening the nation’s water reserves for the year ahead.
