Heavy rains expected next week countrywide

The Meteorological Services Department has forecast that heavy rains are going to be received across the country between Monday and Thursday next week.

Sharp downpours that might lead to potential flash floods are expected across the country between the 25th to the 28th of this month.

The department forecast that rains in excess of 50 mm in 24 hours may occur in all Matabeleland provinces, central Midlands, all Mashonaland provinces and Manicaland.

The department's head public weather services Mr Tich Zinyemba says rains in excess of 80 millimeters are forecast in the Nyamandhlovu, Tsholotsho, Kezi and Gweru/Zvishavane areas on the 26th and into Mashonaland provinces on the 27th.

"A cloud system currently over Botswana and South Africa is forecast to move into Zimbabwe by the 25th through Matabeleland provinces. This is expected to spread further into the country and indications are that there would be sharp downpours that might lead to potential flash floods," said Mr Zinyemba.

Meanwhile, information obtained from the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) shows that the rains received so far have boosted the levels of water in most of the major dams.

Although no spillages have been recorded, most dams in the Mashonaland provinces are well above 60 percent.

In the Manyame catchment area, Chivero, Manyame, Mazvikadei, Bhiri-Manyame dams are all above 70 percent.

In the Mazowe catchment area which covers Mashonaland Central Arcadia, Masembura and Mwenje dams are all above 70 percent except for Mazowe dam which is at 31 percent.

In the Runde catchment area which covers Masvingo province three dams namely Bangala, Muteri, Manjirenji and Mutirikwi dams are below 35 percent.

Kariba dam is critically low at 12,1 percent.