Kimberly Kusauka
Chiredzi communities that are downstream Tugwi and Runde rivers are still under check following warnings about possible flooding emanating from Tokwe-Mukosi Dam spillage that occurred during the weekend of January 15-16 2022 according to Chiredzi District Development Coordinator (DDC) Lovemore Chisema.
Chisema said his office has since relayed information to the communities likely to be affected so that they stop such activities like agriculture along the river banks so that they minimise risks of being marooned by the discharged water.
There have been speculative reports in some sections of social media that efforts by government were already underway to evacuate affected people.
“We are encouraging communities to stop activities which include farming along Runde and Tugwi Rivers.
“We have not reached a stage where we would evacuate people. It is not like the dam has burst, but it is just over spilling. It is not raining this side so the over spill might cause floods. If the dam was about to burst, we would evacuate the people. Currently there are no people who live near the rivers but they carry out activities like gardening near the banks of these rivers,” said Chisema.
Masvingo Secretary for Provincial Affairs and Devolution (Formally known as PDC) Dr Jefter Sakupwanya echoed Chisema’s sentiments and said relaying of information to the target community is the only way to go for now to avert the likely problems to people living downstream Tokwe-Mukosi Dam.
“We are sending warning so that people stop activities they were doing along river banks since the dam spilled,” said Dr Sakupwanya.
The country’s biggest inland dam, Tugwi-Mukosi once spilled for the first time in January 2021 following incessant heavy rains resulting in floods.
About eight years ago, government had to chip in to evacuate flood victims around the dam area who had to be relocated to Chingwizi area.
