eBusiness Weekly
Kiyara Matambanadzo
Zimbabwe’s national dam water levels have risen positively as the country has received increased amount of rainfall over the past 23 days, according to the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA).
ZINWA, which is responsible for managing the country’s dams, also runs 543 water treatment plants countrywide that supply water to growth points, small towns and rural service centres.
In an update on their Twitter page, ZINWA said that the wet spell being experienced in Zimbabwe currently, has helped push up the national dam level average.
According to ZINWA, in the period from 10 February to 24 February the national dam level average had risen from 49,6 percent to 55,3 percent and then to 55,4 percent of the total capacity as at 3 March.
This change will go a long way in successfully improving water security to urban areas and farmers relying on the national dams to irrigate their crop.
Gwayi catchment’s dam level average was 54 percent, up from the February 10 figure of 42,9 percent, Mazowe Catchment was up from 77, 3 to 79,3 percent, Runde Catchment from 40,8 percent to 47,4 percent, Manyame Catchment rose from 73, 4 percent to 75,6 percent, and Save Catchment rose from 54,7 percent to 62,9 percent after experiencing a slight decline in mid-February.
Sanyati Catchment is at 51,5 percent, a slight decline from the February 24 level of 52,1 percent.
“As of March 3 the City of Harare water supply dams are as follows: Harava is 22 percent full, Chivero 60, 4 percent, Manyame Dam 76, 1 percent and Mazvikadei Dam is 77,8 percent full.”
Biri dam is 96,1 percent full, Blockely dam 48,6 percent, Ngwenya Dam is 89,1 percent full, Exchange is at 80 percent, Pollards is 86,3 percent. Khami at 92,9 percent and Insukamini is 53,8 percent full.
ZINWA also reported that despite the current wet spell and the rains Bulawayo dams are still critically low which leaves farmers that rely upon ZINWA dams for irrigation vulnerable.
City of Bulawayo supply dams Mtshabezi is 57,4 percent full, Upper Ncema 8 percent, Mzingwane is 4,9 percent and Lower Ncema which continues to struggle declined from 10,1 percent to 8,2 percent.
Tugwi-Mukosi is 42, 7 percent full, Bangala is spilling at 101,2 percent while Manjirenji is 73,6 percent full, Zhovhe is at 80,3 percent, Gwenoro is at 35,5 percent, Mutirikwi is at 40,5 percent, Iyankuni dam is at 48,8 percent, Mundi-Mataga at 75,4 percent and Silalabuhwa is 97.6 percent.
The improved average of 55,4 percent is still shy of the level expected at this time of the year of 69 percent, however the steady rise is encouraging as farmers can begin to rely on the national dams to irrigate which further increases food security in Zimbabwe.
