Dams levels continue rising

03 Feb, 2017 - 00:02 0 Views

The ManicaPost

Senior Reporter —
DAM levels across the country continue to rise due to widespread rains being received across the country.

Statistics released by the Zimbabwe National Water Authority show that a number of dams in the seven catchment areas are now full and spilling.

ZINWA corporate communications and marketing manager, Mrs Marjorie Munyonga said Lake Chivero, Harava, Pollards, Mazvikadei, Bhiri-Manyame, Nyambuya, Upper Insiza, Mundi-Mataga, Bangala and Woodlands Dams were now 100 percent full and downstream communities should be wary of flooding.

“The spilling of dams raises the risk of flooding for communities downstream. People in these areas should take caution when crossing rivers and are advised to ensure the safety of any irrigation equipment that may be in the rivers,” said Mrs Munyonga.

The national dam level average stands at 59,2 percent, with Manyame Catchment having a dam level average of 101, 2 percent, Gwayi Catchment with 101,7 percent, Sanyati Catchment with 101,2 percent, Mazowe Catchment with 91,8 percent, Mzingwane Catchment with 89,6 percent, Runde and Save are at the bottom with dam level averages of 28,9 and 64, 5 percent, respectively.

Mrs Munyonga expressed concern at the rate at which small dams that are privately owned were breaching or bursting.

“Over the past days, there have been incidents of small dams being washed away or breaching. These small dams are largely private dams on people’s properties or communal dams which are not under the purview of ZINWA. Owners of such dams have an obligation under the Water Act to take all the necessary precautions to ensure the safety of their dams and the surrounding places,” said Mrs Munyonga.

Section 109 of the Water Act reads: “If the owner of a small dam or large dam learns of any sudden or unprecedented flood or alarming or unusual circumstance of occurrence, whether anticipated or existing, which may adversely affect the small dam or large dam, he shall, in addition to discharging any duty, liability or obligation imposed on him by or under any other law (a) forthwith take all such steps as may be reasonable or practicable for dealing with flood circumstance or occurrence as the case may be and (b) as soon as practicable and by registered letter notify the Secretary (for Environment, Water and Climate) and the National Water Authority (ZINWA), as fully as possible, of the flood, circumstance or occurrence, as the case may be, and of the action he has taken or proposes to take.”

Mrs Munyonga said failure to comply with these requirements constitutes a criminal offence and offenders are liable to a fine or imprisonment of up to six months or both such imprisonment and a fine.

Mrs Munyonga said in most incidents of dam failures, these legal requirements would not have been adhered to while preliminary enquiries with other relevant institutions have pointed out that the dams were not even registered.

 

The table below shows the state of some of the major dams:

Dam                Catchment    Purpose                    %age full

Chivero           Manyame        Irrig /W/Supply                     105,5

Mazvikadei     Manyame        Irrigation/Mining                 106,4

Manyame        Manyame        W/Supply and/ Irrig              91,9

Karoi                Manyame        W/ Supply and Irrig               91,9

Bubi-Lupane   Gwayi              Water Supply/  Irrig             104,2

Exchange        Gwayi              Irrig / W/ Supply                     103,9

Lower Mgusa    Gwayi            Irrigation                               102,2

Mtshabezi       Mzingwane      Irrig /  Water Supply              67,8

Zhovhe            Mzingwane      Irrigation                               104,0

Upper Ncema                        Mzingwane      Water Supply     60,5

Lower Ncema                         Mzingwane     Water Supply      22,9

Mundi Mataga  Mzingwane    Irrigation                               105,9

Tokwe-Mukorsi  Runde           Irrigation                                 15,0

Bangala             Runde            Irrigation                               103,4

Manjirenji          Runde            Irrigation                                 45,6

Mutirikwi          Runde            Irrig and W/ Supply                  16,7

Sebakwe         Sanyati            W/ Supply and Irrig               102,3

Whitewaters   Sanyati           Water Supply                                  101,9

Mazowe           Mazowe           Irrigation                                   47,9

Nyambuya      Mazowe           Irrig and W/ Supply               100,0

Osborne          Save                Irrigation                                  46,4

Wenimbi         Save                W/ Supply and Irrig               102,5

Siya                 Save                Irrigation                                  49,8

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