The ManicaPost
Rumbidzayi Zinyuke
Senior Reporter
THE temporary access bridge leading to the Marovanyati Dam wall was swept away last week after the giant reservoir filled to capacity and spilled.
The dam, which has the capacity to hold 50 million cubic metres, has benefitted from the heavy rains being received across the country and spilled, thereby increasing water flow through Mwerihari River.
Zimbabwe National Water Authority corporate communications and marketing manager, Ms Marjorie Munyonga, said spillages from the dam increased pressure on the temporary structure, resulting in its collapse.
“The temporary access bridge was indeed destroyed as a result of spillages from the dam which had filled up. However, as the name suggests, the access bridge was a temporary structure that was meant to facilitate the smooth flow of work during the construction period. The temporary access bridge, because of its interim nature, had also been along the dam’s spillway return channel,” she said.
She said a permanent access bridge and road, which is in line with the dam’s design, will be constructed once the rain season is over.
Last week, the District Civil Protection Committee issued a warning to villagers to be on high alert as the high water levels in Marovanyati, Nerutanga and Ruti dams could lead to flooding downstream.
Communities in these areas are seeing increased flow in the rivers, which according to the CPU could be a cause for concern.
Ms Munyonga said Nerutanga Dam is still spilling at 107,2 percent, while Ruti Dam is now at 89,8 percent capacity.
The water levels in Marovanyati Dam receded to 88,8 percent as at February 15, 2021.
The continued collection of water in dams is expected to boost water security for irrigation in most areas, and Buhera, being one of the driest districts in the country, could benefit immensely.
Marovanyati Dam has an irrigation capacity of 1249 hectares and is already benefitting 34 farmers in the Murambinda A Irrigation Scheme, while work on the second scheme, Guwanda/Murambinda B, has already commenced.
Besides the irrigation scheme, the dam has been providing constant water supply to residents at Murambinda Growth Point and Dorowa Mine as well as the local industrial areas.
