ZINWA dispels Tugwi-Mukosi dam wall collapse

Masvingo (New Ziana) -The Zimbabwe National Water Authority has dismissed reports alleging that the Tugwi-Mukosi Dam wall had collapsed.

The Tugwi-Mukosi Dam is a concrete-face rock-fill dam on the Tokwe River, just downstream of its confluence with the Mukosi River, about 72 kilometres south of Masvingo town.

It is 90.3 metres tall and creates a 1 750 000 000 m3 reservoir, the largest inland dam in the country.

The associated hydroelectric power station has a 12 megawatts installed capacity.

Construction on the dam began in June 1998 but stalled in 2008 and stalled on a number of occasions due to funding constraints.

The Dam was eventually completed in December 2016 and commissioned in May 2017.

In a statement, ZINWA said the dam was intact and under no threat.

“We have been alerted to this disturbing and false information circulating on social media that Tugwi-Mukosi Dam wall has collapsed or about to collapse,” it said.

“The dam is very sound and safe and under no threat of being washed away.
We are not sure of the motive of the people/persons who originated the information. However as ZINWA we are quite proud and sure that this ZINWA-designed and engineered water body remains safe,” read part of the statement from the water authority.

Soon after the dam started spilling at the end of last month, ZINWA issued a notice stating that inspections that had been done on the country’s largest inland water body showed that its foundation and wall were intact with no leakages or movement.
New Ziana