Zimbabwe’s national water security has reached a significant milestone this week, with the national dam storage average climbing to 93.4%.
The latest data from the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) reveals a robust recovery of the country’s water bodies, with nearly a hundred dams now at full capacity.
According to the ZINWA dashboard updated as of April 13, 2026, the country is currently storing 7,589.4 million cubic meters of water against a total national capacity of 8,129,148 million cubic meters.
This represents a slight weekly decline of 0.1%, but a massive 22.9% increase since November 2025, underscoring the success of the current rainy season.
The water distribution remains high across almost all major catchments, with the Runde Catchment leading the nation at 99.7% capacity.
The Gwayi and Sanyati catchments follow closely, sitting at 98.5% and 97.5% respectively.
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Catchment
Storage Percentage
Status
Runde
99.7%
Near Full
Gwayi
98.5%
Near Full
Sanyati
97.5%
Near Full
Save
92.0%
High
Mzingwane
87.6%
High
Manyame
81.9%
High
Mazowe
69.3%
Medium
The report highlights that 98 dams, roughly 64% of the 154 monitored reservoirs, are now full or spilling, having reached or exceeded 99.9% capacity.
This ensures a stable water supply for major urban centers and irrigation schemes heading into the winter cropping season.
However, ZINWA officials have noted that 12 dams are still classified as critical, currently sitting below the 50% capacity mark.
Additionally, while the national average is high, the massive Lake Kariba is excluded from these specific totals, its usable storage was recorded at 29.0%, reflecting the continued need for regional cooperation in managing the Zambezi River’s resources.
The current storage levels provide a significant cushion for the country’s agricultural and domestic needs.
With utilization at over 93%, ZINWA has expressed confidence that most towns and cities have sufficient water to last through the year.
Authorities continue to urge residents and the farming community to use water sparingly, noting that while the reservoirs are full, water remains a finite resource that requires sustainable management.