The ManicaPost
Samuel Kadungure
Senior Reporter
THE Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) is pleading with residential and farming communities to use water sparingly as the dam level report released on Wednesday shows a decline in both the provincial and national levels. According to the report released by the Zinwa corporate communications and marketing manager, Mrs Marjorie Munyonga, the national water storage has declined to 37 percent.
A new record is expected to be set within the next few days, depending on the consumption rates.
The grim statistics are consistent with the high temperatures that are being experienced in most parts of the country.
“Water levels in the country’s dams are declining, which is consistent with the high temperatures being experienced in most parts of the country and stoppage in river flows.
“Continued draw downs of water from the dams by local authorities and irrigating farmers also explain the drop in dam levels. As at October 26, 2020, the national dam level average was 37, 9 percent,” said Mrs Munyonga.
Save Catchment, which covers Manicaland and Mashonaland East provinces, had a dam level average of 38.9 percent, while Manyame Catchment had 57.6 percent.
Mazowe Catchment had 44.7 percent, Mzingwane (33.7 percent), Runde (33.6 percent), Sanyati (24.6 percent) and Gwayi (31.5 percent).
Osborne Dam, which is the largest water reservoir in Manicaland, is equally stressed, with statistics showing that its water levels has declined to 34.3 percent.
Osborne’s major purpose is irrigation of sugar estates in the lowveld.
Mrs Munyonga urged farmers to irrigate efficiently, bearing in mind that no inflows have been recorded in most of the country’s major dams since the inception of the rainy season this month. “In view of this development, Zinwa continues to appeal to water users across the board to use the available water very sparingly and efficiently. Users are advised to constantly check their taps and irrigation systems for leakages and ensure that any leakages that are detected are rectified promptly.
“All raw water users drawing water for purposes other than primary purposes are also advised to ensure that their water use is in terms of water abstraction agreements as required under the Water Act. Any such use without the relevant water abstraction agreements constitutes a criminal offence and users are liable to prosecution,” said Mrs Munyonga.
