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