Zimbabwe Tugwi -Mukosi Dam on high alert as heavy rains push water levels on critical point

Zimbabwe's largest inland dam, Tugwi-Mukosi, is on the brink of spilling due to heavy rains in the catchment area, prompting authorities to advise communities downstream to be vigilant. The dam, located in Masvingo province, is currently at 99.2% capacity, with a total capacity of 1.8 billion cubic meters of water. The Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) has warned of a high risk of spilling if heavy rains persist and has urged communities to avoid crossing flooded rivers and secure their water abstraction equipment.

The Civil Protection Committee in Masvingo is closely monitoring the situation to ensure communities downstream are safe in the event the water body spills. An Air Force of Zimbabwe helicopter has been put on standby to airlift affected families. Minister Ezra Chadzamira said, "Tugwi-Mukosi water levels have been rising significantly over the past few weeks and the water level is now near 90% meaning the dam will likely spill in the coming few days" .

The dam's construction was completed in 2016, and it has been capturing most of the water from upstream sources since then. In 2014, over 3,000 families were evacuated to Chingwizi in Mwenezi following flooding in the dam basin. The government has put in place measures to mitigate the impact of potential flooding, including evacuation centers and emergency response teams