Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, Gwanda Correspondent 

THE Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) has decommissioned three major dams in Matabeleland South Province as their capacity is below 25 percent, an official has said.

Speaking during a meeting for heads of Government departments from Matabeleland South Province on Tuesday, Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) operations engineer under Umzingwane catchment area, Mr Artwell Machaya, said Upper Insiza Dam is 8,5 percent full, Biri Dam is 16,3 percent full and Mhlanga Dam is 23 percent full.

He said major dams in Matabeleland South Province have a combined capacity of 279 150 megalitres out of an expected 586 000 megalitres. “The province has 21 dams and their potential storage capacity is 586 000 megalitres but at present they have a combined storage capacity of 279 150 which means that we have 47,6 percent remaining in our reservoirs,” he said.

“We have since decommissioned three dams namely Mhlanga, Biri and Upper Insiza as they are below 25 percent. Mhlanga Dam was the major supplier of Plumtree Town but they are now getting their water from Mangwe Dam. Eleven percent of our dams are below 50 percent, three are below 25 percent, 10 are above five percent and five are above 60 percent. We monitor dam levels three times per week and this report is at 11 October.” 

Mr Machaya said dams supplying urban centres are in the range of 55 to 70 percent full with a storage of 237 960 megalitres.

 The water will last up to March 2020.

Speaking on the state of irrigation schemes, Mr Machaya said a shortage of water had affected the performance of several irrigation schemes in the province. He said out of 20 irrigation schemes, there was no winter cropping at three of them.

 “Irrigations that get their water from Upper Insiza, Biri and Silalatshani Dams could not reach their full potential either due to a shortage of raw water, decommissioning of dams or because urban supply takes precedence. Other irrigation schemes had other challenges such as power cuts but water is available for farming,” Mr Machaya said. — @DubeMatutu