Tugwi-Mukosi Dam edges closer to spilling

Masvingo (New Ziana) – The country’s biggest inland dam, Tugwi-Mukosi is on the verge of spilling for the first time since its construction seven years ago, officials have said.

This follows incessant heavy rains that have pounded the country since late November, and are continuing.

According to the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA), Tugwi-Mukosi Dam stood at 88.87 percent full as of Wednesday this week, and the water-flows into the water body was still heavy.

While good, this is raising fears of possible flooding of low-lying areas downstream if the dam spills, which officials said was almost certain.

The dam has a massive capacity of 1.8 billion cubic metres, and officials are unsure what damage it can cause if the dam spills.

It has never spilled since construction, with the highest level it had reached to capacity being 78 percent in 2018.

“ZINWA continues to closely monitor the situation and the nation will be kept updated on any developments on the dam,” ZINWA said in a tweet.

In 2014, thousands of people around the dam were evacuated after fears it would spill and flood them. This time around, Zinwa said adequate preparations and measures had been taken to ensure the safety of people.

New Ziana