Government Prepares For Another Disaster At Tugwi Mukosi

By Martha Leboho

Zimbabwe is likely to face another disaster in Masvingo as the two largest dams records 95% full capacity, Post On Sunday reports.

Masvingo Provincial Development Coordinator (PDC) Dr Jefta Sakupwanya told this publication that they are holding preparedness meetings ahead of the rainy season, checking dam levels and possible crisis that may occur.

“We had a great rain season last season and Mutirikwi is about 95% and Tugwi-mukosi is 95.4% full and as we prepare for the coming summer season, Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) has deliberately released some water from Mutirikwi to also allow the new inflows that will be generated from this season” said Dr Sakupwanya

He said communities have been engaged to be prepared for evacuation and they have put in place some temporary material to be used for displaced families.

“We continually engage communities living downstreams of some of our major dams to also be prepared to be evacuated to higher grounds should such a need arise

We have also put in place resources that will be required for corresponding to extreme situations, this refers to acquisition of tents and blankets and some temporary material that we have used in the past to accommodate displaced communities” he added.

Currently Tugwi-mukosi is at 95.4% full and Mutirikwi is at 95% full. About 60 000 people were affected by Tugwi-mukosi floods in 2014 and approximately 2500 households upstream of Tugwi were displaced to Chingwizi, Chisase and Masangula relocation sites of Nuanetsi Ranch in Mwenezi district.