Masvingo (New Ziana)-Mutirikwi Dam spilled for the first time in 15 years on Saturday as dams in the Runde catchment area covering most of Masvingo made significant gains following recent heavy rains in Masvingo and Midlands’ provinces.
A brief statement from the Zimbabwe National Water Authority, (ZINWA), said the water made it over the nearly 100-metre-high spillway around 5am following heavy rains upstream that saw the river and its tributaries swollen for a number of days.
Other dams that were now spilling as of February 20 included Muzhwi north of Mashava across the Shashe River which runs along the border of Masvingo and Chirumanzu districts, Ngezi and Manyuchi Dam on the border between Mwenezi and Mberengwa districts.
Nyajena, Woodlands, Nyatare, Makonese, Gozho, Turamura Chingami dams were spilling as were dams in the Midlands’ that included Mundi Mataga and Chimwe.
Also spilling were Biri, Matezva, Munjanganja and Rozva dams.However, a number of dams on the Runde Catchment area were yet to fill up despite the significant gains they made from the recent heavy rains.
These included the country’s largest inland reservoir, Tugwi-Mukosi Dam, which was at 93.32 percent, Bangala Dam at 52,46 percent, Manjirenji at 53,94 percent and Mushandike at 60,28 percent.
Bindangome Dam was at 98,33 percent, Tokwane at 40, 56 percent, Siya at 52,48 percent and Musaverima Dam at 93,30 percent.
Magudu at 37,35 percent, Chivake at 80,17 percent, Mabcute at 94,50 percent and Mashoko Dam at 69,58 percent were the other dams yet to reach 100 percent in Masvingo province.
New Ziana
