Zimbabwe's sugar industry heads for crisis

Zimbabwe's sugar industry is heading for a major crisis as water at the country's largest inland lake, Mutirikwi, recedes to dangerously low levels. The lake could be de-commissioned around mid-November.

Statistics availed by the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZIMWA) paint a grim picture.

As of Sunday, the lake held only 79 980 mega litres of water out of its total capacity of 1 378 082 mega litres.

This represents a frightening 87,4 percent drop in water levels, which means the lake is now left with less than 12,96 percent of its water capacity.

According to management at ZINWA's Runde Catchment Area, the rate of water loss, now between 0,07 and 0,10 per day, is expected to rise significantly as the country enters the peak dry summer season (October and November), which is the hottest period in Zimbabwe.

The consequences of the country's principal inland, man-made reservoir drying up could spell doom for sugar cane farmers downstream at Chiredzi's sugar estates.