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    Major dam about to spill

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    Harare, (New Ziana) – The country’s second largest dam, the 1.378 million cubic metre Lake Mutirikwi in Masvingo, is about to spill, the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) has said.

    The dam, whose water level crept towards full capacity and stood at 97.6 percent as of January 25, is the second largest inland dam after another Masvingo water reservoir, the Tugwi-Mukosi Dam with a capacity of 1.8 billion cubic metres.

    When full, the dam will join Zhove Dam in Beitbridge, Manyuchi Dam on the border between Masvingo’s Mwenezi district and Mberengwa district in the Midlands, and Silalabuhwa in Filabusi, Matabeleland South. In a notice, ZINWA warned communities downstream of the dam to stay alert and avoid getting swept away or marooned by the impending flooding.

    “The Zimbabwe National Water Authority would like to advise the public that due to increased rainfall activity within Lake Mutirikwi’s catchment area, water levels in the lake have significantly increased to the extent that the dam is now expected to spill should the wet spell persist. As of January 25, 2025 water levels in Lake Mutirikwi had risen to 97.6 percent, an increase of 3.6 percent in 4 days,” it said.

    “Should the rainfall activity continue in the dam’s catchment area, the dam is expected to fill up and spill in the coming days. In view of the above, the Authority wishes to advise communities downstream of the dam to be on high alert and to exercise extreme caution in the wake of this development.”

    ZINWA said it will continue to monitor water levels in the lake and work closely with other disaster management stakeholders such as the Civil Protection Department to create the necessary awareness around the possible flooding downstream.

    “Downstream communities are further warned to avoid crossing flooded rivers, closely monitoring the movement of children and livestock as well as securing their irrigation equipment.”

    The average national water level in the country’s nearly 10 000 dams stood at 61.4 percent as of January 22 with major dams that hold significant amounts of the precious liquid being Manyame with 76.2 percent, Chivero 74.8 percent and Tugwi- Mukosi Dam at 71.9 percent.

    However, the perennially water-starved country’s second largest city, Bulawayo’s six supply dams hold significantly low levels of water with Lower Ncema and Upper Ncema at 21.08 percent and 22.8 percent respectively, Mzingwane (33.4), Inyanguni (41.89 percent), Insiza (44.93 percent)and Mtshabezi, (64.3 percent).

    This has forced Bulawayo to look north to the Zambezi River with the water expected to flow via the Gwayi-Shangani Lake through a 257km pipeline. Construction of the dam, which was first mooted in 1912 and began in earnest in 2004, is expected to be completed this year.

    New Ziana

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