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Senior Reporter
Several dams in the country are spilling, and many others are at least 71 percent full as heavy rains continue to fall. This is according to statistics released by the Zimbabwe National Water Authority last Thursday.In the Gwayi catchment area, dams that were full or were already spilling as of last week included Tshongokwe (115,9 percent), Lower Mgusa (109 percent), Shangani (113 percent), Exchange (111,9 percent), Insukamini (106 percent), Kalope (102 percent), Tshangwa and Mgululu (both 101,4 percent), Pollards (100,5 percent) and Ngwenya (100 percent).

The situation was much the same in Manyame catchment area where Chivero was 106 percent full and Harava was at 100 percent.
In Mazowe, Arcadia, Negomo, Mwarazi, Nyambuya, Kushinga Phikelela, Rufaro, Chiwake, Chesa and Mufurudzi dams were all at 100 percent full, with most dams spilling.

Dams in Runde catchment area are also spilling, with Nyajena leading the way at 126 percent full, followed by Bangala (113,9 percent), Tokwane (110 percent), and Muzhwi and Jiri (both 105 percent).

In Sanyati seven dams were over 100 percent full, with Ngondoma topping at 123 percent; while in the Save catchment area, 10 dams were spilling last week with Chako leading with 107 percent.

Meanwhile, our Beitbridge Bureau reports that the Civil Protection Unit has started implementing the second phase of a project to build houses for 12 families affected by flash floods in Tshikwalakwala, some 135km east of Beitbridge Town.

In an interview yesterday, CPU district chairman for Beitbridge Mr Simon Muleya said they built five two-roomed houses with a Blair toilet each last year under the first phase.

He said the project was being funded by Help Germany, an NGO.
“We have already delivered material on site and we are happy with the progress on the ground,” he said.

Mr Muleya said they were expecting the remaining seven two-roomed houses to be ready for occupation by the end of this month.
The 12 families who were last year airlifted from the confluence of Bubi and Limpopo rivers after being marooned by floods for three days.

“We have been moving around educating the communities living near major rivers and dams to be wary of any flood threats.
“So far we have been concentrating on the community in Tshikwalakwala after the Zimbabwe National Water Authority indicated to us that the water levels in the Limpopo (River) were rising,” said Mr  Muleya.

In January last year 12 people died in flood-related incidents while another 200 were left homeless in Beitbridge East constituency.

Around 300 cattle, 600 goats and 200 donkeys were swept away by the floods.