DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT AND UTILISATION
VISION STATEMENT
Good quality water for all
MISSION STATEMENT
To create a conducive environment for sustainable water resources planning, development and management.
Functions of the Department of Irrigation
- 1. Develop policies to guide the orderly and Integrated planning of the optimum development, utilisation and protection of the country’s water resources
- 2.Ensure the availability of clean water to all citizens for primary purposes and to meet needs of aquatic and associated ecosystems particularly when there are competing demands for water
- 3.Design construct and maintain medium to large size dams and water supplies to satisfy present and future water requirements
- 4.Develop sustainable ground water resources
- 5.Manage and administer the water fund through the Zimbabwe National Water Authority
- 6.Participate in the development and implementation of SADC and other regional and international organisations in water resources management frameworks
- 7.Set tariffs for both raw and treated water in consultation with stakeholders
- 8.Manage all water resources of the country to the integrated water resources management principles.
OUR WORK
Stakeholder Participation
- This is an important part in water management as it promotes Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM). The department ensures participation of stakeholders through involvement of water users in water issues and decision making. The water users range from the small communities who use water for everyday domestic use to the most commercial large-scale water users. These stakeholders make up our Catchment and Subcatchment Councils which help to manage water around the country’s seven catchments and they work hand in hand with the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA).
WATER RESOURCES PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT
- This section is involved in planning several huge developmental projects around the country under PSIP and PPPs for instance the construction of Tugwi Mukosi Dam which is the biggest inland dam in the country.
- There are other developmental projects being worked on which include construction of Gwayi Shangani dam, Mutange dam, Marovanyati dam, Causeway dam and Kunzvi Dam to mention a few.
WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
- This is another important component of the work done by the department and it involves catchment protection, dam maintenance, engaging stakeholders to participate in water issues and implementing national programmes for instance, the National Desiltation Programme which was launched in 2016 and the National Command Water Harvesting Programme launched in 2017. Both programmes were aimed at improving water storage and availability throughout the country by removal of silt in our water bodies that would have accumulated over time, construction of weirs and drilling of boreholes for communities with water shortages.`
Regional, International and Transboundary Water Resources Management
- The department also ensures the country’s participation in SADC and other regional and international initiatives in managing transboundary water resources. Some of these initiatives include:
- Pungwe Program between Zimbabwe and Mozambique
- Zambezi Watercourse Commission (ZAMCOM)
- Limpopo Watercourse Commission (LIMCOM)
- African Ministers Council on Water (AMCOW)
- This ensures good relations with neighboring countries as far as water resources management is concerned as well as avoiding any conflicts that might arise between riparian states.
- It also ensures sustainable use of natural resources in the shared basins by realizing the potential benefits of cooperation and looking at previously overlooked opportunities within the basin. This makes transboundary water resources management a very important aspect of our work.
