Darwendale Dam

CURRENT dam water levels released by the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) indicate that the country’s dam levels are slightly below average at 67,4 percent.
The report covers the Zinwa catchment boundaries of Runde, Manyame, Mzingwane, Save, Mazowe, Gwayi and Sanyati.
Runde catchment in Masvingo has the lowest dam levels at 47,8 percent. This was attributed to irrigation activities in the area.
Runde catchment dams include Banga, Mushandike, Nyajena, and Mtirikwi dams.
Giving a hydrological update at the National Rainfall Outlook last week, ZINWA representative Nyashadzashe Vhiriri said rainfall forecast for the Runde catchment was normal to above normal for the first half of the forthcoming rainfall season and normal to below normal for the second half of the season.
“The catchment started the season with the dam storage volume being below the normal levels and by the end of December the storage levels had surpassed the normal levels. However, owing to the below normal rainfall activities from January to March, the levels fell behind the normal figures,” Vhiriri said.
By the end of March, the dam levels were at 57,1 percent full, 6,2 percent less than the expected range, he said.
Dams in the Manyame catchment area (Mashonaland West) are currently at 93 percent full, above the expected average of 76,7 percent, while the Save catchment area is at 68,2 percent full.
The Save catchment area also supplies water for irrigation in the Lowveld and Manicaland.
Dams in the Save catchment include Siya dam which complements Manjirenjire, Osborne, Wenimbi and Rusape dams.
Dam levels in the Mazowe catchment, which covers mainly the Mashonaland Central Province, now stand at 83,2 percent full. Mwenje, Mwarazi and Mufurudzi dams are some of the major dams in the catchment.
Dams in the Gwayi catchment in Matabeleland North are below the expected average of 66,2 percent at 62,6 percent.
Sanyati and Mzingwane catchment areas are both below 70 percent.
The water supply status for major centres indicates that Bulawayo has 10 months worth of water supplies left from Mzingwane, considering the limitations at Insiza dam.
“We have a 21 month rule meaning that at any given time the water supply should be able to cover 21 months and if it’s below the 21 month rule we usually advise water rationing,” Vhiriri said.
Harare and satellite towns, Chinhoyi, Mutare, Kwekwe, Redcliffe, Marondera, Rusape and Masvingo, the cities have water supply for the next 30 months, while Kadoma and Gweru have supply for the next 20 months.
For the 2015/2016 season, the Meteorological Service Department recently predicted a normal to below normal rainfall season and urged government to prioritise irrigation rehabilitation.
Met department forecaster, Lucy Motsi, said there was a high likelihood of a late start to the rain season across the country.
“A short rainfall season (December to February) is expected across the country hence an option for small grains, short season varieties and staggering plants would be encouraged. There is need to enhance rainfall this season as such the national cloud seeding programme is highly recommended and those with access to dams with water should complement their farming with irrigation.
“For those with livestock, water points should be preserved and protected and livestock destocking should be given more consideration and done timeously to avoid losses. It is still possible to harvest grass for fodder in those areas where forest fires have not been lit,” Motsi said.
The hydrological season starts from October 1 and ends on September 30.
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