Mrs Munyonga
Walter Mswazie Masvingo Correspondent
The Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) has started releasing water from Tokwe-Mukosi Dam to sugar cane estates in the Lowveld. In a statement yesterday, Zinwa spokesperson Mrs Marjorie Munyonga said the Lowveld started receiving water from the multi-million-dollar dam last month.
“The release of water from the giant water body started on August 23 with warning flows being released at a rate of 5 000 (five cubic metres) litres of water per second,” she said. Mrs Munyonga said the warning flows were a standard procedure, meant to alert people downstream of a dam of an impending release of more water.
“Current releases from the dam now stand at 15 000 litres (15 cubic metres) of water per second. Water is being released from Tokwe-Mukosi into Tokwane Dam, where it is then channelled to the Lowveld Estates through canals,” she said Mrs Munyonga said the water was benefiting Triangle and Hippo Valley sugar cane estates in the Lowveld, other A2 sugar cane farmers within the area and those in the Tokwane-Ngundu area.
“Tokwe-Mukosi Dam, which is the country’s largest inland water body, is expected to spur irrigation activities in the drought-prone Masvingo Province,” said Mrs Munyonga.
“With a capacity of 1,8 billion cubic metres, the dam is expected to allow for irrigation of an additional 22 000 hectares of land in the Lowveld.” Mrs Munyonga said the water releases were expected to boost the water levels in Mutirikwi Dam and ensure sustainable water security for Masvingo City.
“Before Tokwe-Mukosi’s introduction, Mutirikwi Dam, which was then the country’s largest inland water body, had the dual role of supplying irrigation water to the Lowveld and water for domestic needs for Masvingo Town,” she said.
“This saw water levels in Mutirikwi dropping drastically, especially during 2015/ 2016 El Nino-induced drought when the levels went down to as little as 5 percent, leading to serious rationing of irrigation water to the Lowveld. By resorting to Tokwe-Mukosi, water levels in Mutirikwi are expected to improve when the country starts receiving rains.” Lake Mutirikwi, which was the sole water supplier to the Lowveld, would have a chance to boost its holding capacity when it is relieved by Tokwe-Mukosi Dam from supplying water to the Lowveld. As of Monday this week, Tokwe-Mukosi was 67 percent full, while Mutirikwi was at 38,8 percent capacity.