By Archford Chirimudombo
Harare, (New Ziana) – Water levels in major dams in Zimbabwe remain relatively high despite rising temperatures and increased water withdrawals by local authorities and farmers for irrigation, providing a strong buffer as the summer season gathers momentum.
According to the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) head of corporate communications and marketing, Marjorie Munyonga, the national dam level average stood at 82.6 percent as of Monday, reflecting a favourable water supply position ahead of the anticipated increase in demand during the early summer irrigation period.
The relatively high storage levels are expected to support agricultural activities and other competing water requirements, although ZINWA cautioned against complacency, emphasising the need for responsible water use to sustain the available reserves.
Munyonga urged water users to adopt efficient and sustainable water-use practices, while calling on those drawing water from dams managed by the authority to ensure that they have valid water abstraction agreements.
“Notwithstanding these high water levels in the dams, ZINWA wishes to reiterate that water is a finite resource and appeals to water users to use the available water efficiently and sustainably. All those using water from ZINWA-managed dams are advised to ensure that their water use is in terms of a water abstraction agreement as is required by the law,” she said.
She encouraged farmers planning to undertake early summer irrigation to approach their nearest ZINWA Service Centres and secure the necessary water abstraction agreements to facilitate access to water for their agricultural activities.
“These agreements will allow ZINWA to reserve their irrigation water requirements in the dams. Water abstraction agreements also make it easier for ZINWA to plan and allocate the available water among the competing needs of diverse water users,” she said.
The agreements are also critical in enabling the authority to effectively manage and distribute available water resources, particularly during periods of heightened demand when agriculture, domestic consumption, industry and other economic activities compete for supplies.
Munyonga warned that drawing water from dams under ZINWA management without the requisite documentation is an offence under the Water Act, urging farmers and other water users to comply with the legal requirements governing water abstraction.
Dams with high storage levels include Siya in Bikita district, Masvingo province, which is full at 100 percent capacity, followed by Tugwi-Mukosi in Chivi in the same province at 99 percent and Mtshabezi in Umzingwane, Matabeleland South province at 98.4 percent.
Other dams with substantial water reserves include Muzhwi in Masvingo at 96.1 percent, Whitewaters in Gweru, Midlands province at 89.6 percent, Mutirikwi in Masvingo at 88.7 percent, Masembura and Arcadia in Bindura, Mashonaland Central at 88.5 percent and 87.1 percent respectively, among others.
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