MARTIN MAWAYA
Harare–Zimbabwe’s dams have continued to rise, with the national dam level average reaching 85.8% as of February 24, 2025.
This represents a cumulative gain of 28.9% since December 19, 2024.
According to ZINWA’s Head, Corporate Communications and Marketing, Marjorie Munyonga the gains are attributed to the substantial rains being received throughout the country.
She added that the increase in water levels is 18.3% higher than the 10.6% gain recorded during the same period in the previous season.
“The country’s two largest inland water bodies, Tugwi-Mukosi and Mutirikwi, both located in Masvingo, are already full and spilling,” Munyonga said.
The report indicates that dams in Matabeleland North province experienced the highest percentage gains in terms of inflows at 66.1%, followed by dams in Bulawayo Province with 44.4%.
Mashonaland East Province, on the other hand, recorded the least inflows at 5%, while Mashonaland West’s dams gained a cumulative 8.1% since December 19, 2024.
“With the dams receiving these significant and at times higher than normal inflows, ZINWA encourages communities downstream of dams to be on very high alert, to monitor the movement of children and livestock as well as ensuring that all water abstraction equipment along river channels is removed or properly secured,” advised Munyonga.
She said ZINWA remains optimistic that the gains are expected to increase as more inflows are still anticipated.
The continued rains and rising dam levels is poised to reap the benefits of an improved water supply, boosting irrigation and agriculture sector.
