The Civil Protection Unit (CPU) in Beitbridge has warned communities living downstream of Zhovhe Dam of possible flooding as the dam’s floodgates will be opened this Thursday because the dam is now full.
In a public notice issued this Thursday, the district’s civil protection unit said:
Zhovhe Dam is now full and the flood gates will be opened today.
May we all advise the communities living downstream to take all necessary precautionary measures.
The dam is situated along the 63km Umzingwane River and has a carrying capacity of 133 million cubic litres of water, making it one of the 10 largest dams in the country.
The communities along the river include those from Masera, Bishopstone, Mtetengwe, Malala and Makakhavhule.
Beitbridge has been receiving significant rains during the last three days and this has resulted in rivers including the Shashe, Umzingwane and Limpopo reaching peak flow.