Govt issues flood warning Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri
Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri

Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri

Abigail Mawonde Herald Correspondent
Government has issued a flood warning for the 2017/ 18 rainy season, especially in low lying areas, but said it was taking measures to avert a potential disaster. In a ministerial statement in Parliament on Wednesday, Environment, Water and Climate Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri said the 2017 /18 rainfall forecast predicted normal to above normal rains.

“Firstly, allow me to take this opportunity to share with you the hydrological forecast for the 2017 /18 rainfall season. Our forecast is that we are expecting mostly normal to above normal rains culminating in high river flows and high in-flows into our dams, as well as high recharge to groundwater aquifers. The country is expected to generate between 18 to 24 billion cubic metres of water, yet our nation’s dam storage capacity is standing at 14 billion cubic metres against a situation where most of the dams are at nearly 70 percent full at a time when they should be at 50 percent full, as we approach the new season,” she said.

Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri said this was going to lead to floods.

“This implies that due to the excessive rains experienced during the 2016 /17 rainy season, we are standing at above normal water storage levels and most of the 2017 /18 run-off water will end up flowing to the oceans. The chances of flooding like we encountered in the 2016 /17 season are very high and we need to strengthen our early warning systems in areas like Tsholotsho, Malipati, Gokwe, Muzarabani, Middle Sabi and Chikwalakwala,” she said.

Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri said bearing in mind the potential disastrous situation the country is faced with, her ministry had considered to vigorously pursue an ambitious command water harvesting programme.

“This programme is deliberately aimed at improving the lives of people at grassroots level across the country through the construction of small weirs on our rivers in order to harness the water which will be used during the dry season. The programme also entails the repair of small community dams, desiltation of dams and weirs, drilling of boreholes, putting up household roof tops and rock top rain water harvesting equipment.”

Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri said the programme was being spearheaded by the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA).

“ZINWA is providing technical assistance such as designs and supervision during the construction period while communities, under the guidance of their local leadership structures will mobilise resources such as cement, rocks, labour and other materials.The local leadership structures will also be critical in the identification of areas in their respective wards, where the weirs will be built. The target is having a weir in every ward,” she said.

Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri said she was happy that her ministry had secured a funding to the tune of $2 million to support the programme and had an allocation of $3 million to support the drilling of boreholes across the country.

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