Harare (New Ziana) – Communities downstream of dams should be on high alert for flooding as the country’s water bodies continue receiving significant inflows due to incessant rains, the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) has said.

In a statement, ZINWA said water levels in the country’s major dams were on an upward trend on account of heavy rains being received in different parts of the country. ZINWA head of corporate communications and marketing, Marjorie Munyonga said that as such, the risk of flooding had also increased for downstream communities.

“With the dams receiving these significant and at times higher than normal inflows, ZINWA encourages communities downstream of dams to be on very high alert, to monitor the movement of children and livestock as well as ensuring that all water abstraction equipment along river channels is removed or properly secured,” said Munyonga.

According to statistics released by ZINWA, as of February 24, 2025, the national dam level average had risen to 85. 8 percent with dams having gained a cumulative 28.9 percent since December 19, 2024.

“This is 18. 3 percent higher than the 10, 6 percent which the dams gained during the same period in the past season. The country’s two largest inland water bodies, Tugwi-Mukosi and Mutirikwi, which are both in Masvingo are already full and spilling,” said.

ZINWA said dams in Matabeleland North province had the highest percentage gains in terms of inflows at 66.1 percent, followed by dams in Bulawayo Province with 44. 4 percent.

Mashonaland East Province has so far recorded the least inflows of five percent, followed by Mashonaland West whose dams gained a cumulative 8.1 percent since December 19, 2024. “The gains are expected to increase as more inflows are still anticipated,” said the authority.

New Ziana