Samantha Chigogo Herald Correspondent
The country’s average dam levels have increased and some major dams have reached 100 percent capacity.
Zimbabwe National Water Authority corporate communications manager Mrs Marjorie Munyonga added that rains which were experienced across the country last week contributed to the improvement of water levels.
“Due to some rainfall activity in the past week, there have been a significant improvement in the water levels of major dams especially those in Manyame, Mazowe and Gwayi catchments,” she said.
“Chivero Dam level rose from 72,7 percent last week to 75,6 percent this week representing a 2,9 percent increase while Harava (22,3 percent), Seke (28 percent) and Manyame (86,6 percent) also recorded substantial gains.”
Mrs Munyonga said the Gwayi Catchment had also recorded some notable rise in water levels.
“In Gwayi Catchment, the same trend has been recorded with Tshongokwe Dam rising from 70 percent last week to 81,1 percent this week registering an impressive 15,5 percent rise,” she said.
“Lower Mgusa has also rose by 11,6 percent while Insukami, Upper Mgusa and Shangani dams gained 1,3, 8,4 and 0,1 percent respectively.”
Mrs Munyonga said despite the rains, some dams had not shown much improvement in their water levels.
“Dams in Mazowe and Save catchments such as Nyambuya, Chiwake, Odzani, Wenimbi and Osborne have also recorded positive movement in their water levels,” she said.
“There has, however, not been much movement in the water levels in Runde, Mzingwane and Sanyati catchments.”
She said from the available statistics, dam levels in the Mazowe Catchment were now 100 percent full.
Rufaro and Nyambuya dams are 100 percent full, Masembura 93 percent, Chiwake 84,4 percent and Chimhanda 49,8 percent. Most dams in the catchment are used for irrigation and water supply.
Manyame Dam, which is used for irrigation and water supply to Norton and Harare is 86,6 percent full, while Chivero, used for the same purposes is 75,6 percent full. Mazvikadei, which is used for irrigation and mining is 89,3 percent full.
Dam levels in the Runde Catchment, most of which provide water to irrigate sugarcane, have also increased with Tokwane Dam recording 100 percent, Amapongokwe 58,9 percent, Manjirenji 27,8 percent, Mutirikwi 19,7 percent and Bangala 14,3 percent.
In the Mzingwane Catchment, most dams have remained above average with Mundi-Mataga currently at 75,4 percent, Ingwesi 69,9 percent, Mtshabezi 69,4 percent, Zhovhe 69,2 percent and Insiza 58,2 percent full.
Gwayi Catchment, which is mainly used for irrigation purposes Tshongokwe is at 81,1 percent full, Upper Mgusa 81 percent, Bubi-Lupane 61,8 percent and Lower Mgusa 60,2 percent.
In the Save Catchment area, Zimunya Dam is 100 percent full, Wenimbi 85,4 percent, Siya 54,4 percent, Odzani 39,7 percent and Osborne 34,3 percent.
Most dams in the Sanyati Catchment area are above 50 percent full with Claw at 87,7 percent, Mahusekwa 79,2 percent, Sebakwe 59,7 percent, Mamina 57,3 percent and Ngesi 52,9 percent.