Harare, (New Ziana) — The Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) has assured farmers and urban residents that national dams hold sufficient water to sustain the country’s 2025 winter cropping season, following the closure of the winter wheat planting window on June 15.
In a statement released by ZINWA spokesperson Marjorie Munyonga, the authority confirmed that water levels in the country’s major dams remain strong, with the national average standing at 87 percent as of June 23, a 15.1 percent increase from the same period last year, when the average dam level was 71.9 percent.
“This strong water position signals a positive outlook for both food security and water supply stability as we enter the peak of the winter farming season,” said Munyonga.
Munyonga said more than 620 farmers have already signed water abstraction agreements to access water for wheat, barley, and potato farming whilst other agreements are in place for farmers producing sugar cane, tobacco, citrus, horticultural crops, and for those in the livestock sector needing water for pasture irrigation and animal consumption.
However, she has raised concern over unregistered water use and has issued a firm warning to farmers who may have planted crops without formal water abstraction agreements.
Munyonga urged them to immediately approach their local catchment or service centre offices to regularize their water use.
“Water abstraction agreements are essential for the sustainable and efficient management of the country’s water resources. They enable ZINWA to allocate water fairly among competing users, including agriculture, industry, and urban households,” said Munyonga.
She also stressed that no water will be released to individuals or entities lacking valid abstraction agreements.
Munyonga further stressed that ZINWA has begun intensifying surveillance along river systems to clamp down on illegal abstractions, which can disrupt regulated water flows and threaten water security for compliant users.
As the winter cropping season gains momentum, ZINWA is encouraging all farmers to strictly adhere to their allocated water quotas to ensure equitable distribution and avoid penalties.
The announcement is a welcome boost for the agriculture sector, which plays a key role in Zimbabwe’s economy and food supply. With dam levels well above seasonal averages, the country is positioned for a potentially strong winter harvest—provided that water usage remains within regulated guidelines.
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