Agriculture writer
Villagers in the down stream have been advised to be on high alert as the country’s second largest inland water body, Lake Mutirikwi yesterday started spilling.
The Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) said in a statement:
“Lake Mutirikwi, Zimbabwe’s second largest inland water body has started spilling as the wet spell intensifies.
Downstream communities have been placed on high alert and are urged to exercise extreme caution, not to cross flooded rivers and to ensure that all irrigation equipment along river channels is properly secured or removed.
ZINWA will continue to monitor water levels in the lake and work closely with other disaster management stakeholders such as Civil Protection Department to create the necessary awareness around the possible flooding downstream.”
Besides providing water supply for Masvingo city, Lake Mutirikwi is a source of water for irrigation in the Lowveld’s sugarcane industry.