Government of the Republic of MozambiqueGovernment of the Republic of Zimbabwe

A part of the project:

DEVELOPMENT OF THE PUNGWE RIVER BASIN JOINTINTEGRATED WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT STRATEGY

A monograph of the

PUNGWE RIVER BASIN- LIGHT EDITION

Preamble

Water is fundamental for human survival, health and dignity and the prerequisite for human development. However, in many places of the world the freshwater resources are under in-creasing pressure because of over utilisation and pollution from human activities. The Pungwe River is no exception. Although the current situation is generally good, projections of future water requirements show an increasing competition between different water users. In addition the current problem of informal small-scale mining that periodically creates high suspended sediment in the river has shown that the Pungwe River and its downstream users are vulnerable for manmade activities in the upper reaches.

Management of the water resources are therefore essential to overcome current and future problems of supplying water of adequate quantity and quality to all users in the Pungwe River basin. This management must take into account the interests of all parties and sectors, including ecological factors, to enable a sustainable and equitable use of the water at the basin or catchment scale. This is known today as Integrated Water Resources Management, or in short IWRM. IWRM is a participatory planning process, based on sound science, which brings together stakeholders to determine how to meet society’s long-term needs for water resources while maintaining essential ecological and economic values. It is an interdisciplinary and collected process that promotes a cross-sectoral coordination in water management.

The Pungwe River is shared by the countries Zimbabwe and Mozambique. The Governments of Zimbabwe and Mozambique have recognised the need for sustainable water mana-gement of the river and have therefore jointly emerged on the project: Pungwe River Basin Joint Integrated Water Resources Management Strategy (the Pungwe Project in short). The Pungwe Project is a co-operative effort by the two Governments to create a framework for the sustainable and equitable management, development and conservation of the water re-sources of the Pungwe River basin, with the objective of increasing the derived social and economic benefi ts for the people living in the basin. A key element in the development of this strategy by the Project lies in building capacity for its implementation and upgrading, to facilitate effective participatory management by both the authorities and stakeholders.

The Pungwe Project is fi nanced by the Swedish International Development Co-operation Agency (Sida), through an agreement with Zimbabwe and Mozambique. It is implemented under the auspices of the Department of Water Resources (DWR), in the Ministry of Rural Resources, Water Development and Irrigation (MRRWD&I), Zimbabwe, and the National Directorate of Water (DNA), in the Ministry of Public Works and Housing, Mozambique, on behalf of the two governments. The implementing agencies are the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) through the Save Catchment Manager’s Offi ce, and the Regional Water Administration of Central Mozambique (ARA-Centro), respectively. The Pungwe project commenced in February 2002 and is anticipated to be fi nalised in April 2006. A consortium of Consultants, led by SWECO International of Sweden, assists the implementing agencies during the project.

One of the basic fundaments of IWRM is the knowledge of the current situation in the river basin. How much water resources are naturally available? What are the socio-economic con-ditions? How large are the potential for agricultural development in relation to soil suitability and water availability? What are the key environmental assets and how are these affected by future development? The answers to these and many other similar questions are fundamental for a successful implementation of water management. One of the key tasks of the Pungwe Project has therefore been to produce a “monograph”, describing in detail the Pungwe River basin in relation to water management. The fi nal result of this task is an extensive report series with a main report and twelve annexes, to be used as a tool for the professionals working with water management in the Pungwe River basin.

To enable a wider knowledge among the stakeholders of the Pungwe River basin the two Governments have suggested creating a short version of the monograph. Through this shorter version the water authorities of the two countries aim to increase the awareness and understanding about the factors affecting the water resources of the Pungwe River basin and by this promote the process of water management among the stakeholders. We hope that this River Basin Monograph will give the reader an enjoyable and informative experience.

February 2006

Americo Muianga Vavarirai Choga Director Director National Directorate of Water, Mozambique Department of Water Resources, Zimbabwe

Manuel Fobra Thomas Murinye Director, ARA-Centro, Mozambique Catchment Manager, ZINWA Save, Zimbabwe

Lennart Lundberg Project Director, SWECO International, Sweden

A MONOGRAPH OF THE PUNGWE RIVER BASIN

Table of Contents

The Biophysical Environment 2

Socio-economic Conditions of the Pungwe River Basin 10

Water Resources of the Pungwe River Basin 14

Water Quality in the Pungwe River Basin 18

Water Use in the Pungwe River Basin 20

Water Resources Management in the Pungwe River Basin 22

Future Water Resources Development 24

Physiography and Drainage

The Pungwe Basin in Zimbabwe and Mozambique covers a total area of 31,151 km2, of which 1,461 km2

(4.7%) lies in Zimbabwe, and 29,690 km2 (95.3%) is in Mozambique. The main Pungwe River has a total length of approximately 400 km. The map on the opposite page shows the basin area.

The Pungwe River originates in the eastern highlands of Zimbabwe, and fl ows in a general easterly direc-tion through Mozambique into the Indian Ocean.

The Pungwe River rises from the western slopes of the Inyangani Mountains from an altitude of 2,500 m above mean sea level (amsl).

It fl ows southwards for about 20 km, where it abruptly changes course at Pungwe Falls, a location renowned for its scenic beauty, and meanders in a general eas-terly direction through an area known as the Honde Valley. The river then crosses the Mozambican border near Katiyo Tea Estate, approximately 60 km from its headwaters, at an altitude of about 579 m amsl.

The principal tributaries of the Pungwe River in Zim-babwe are the Honde on the right bank and the Nya-zengu, Chiteme, Nyamhingura, Nyawamba, Nyamu-kombe, and Rwera rivers on the left bank.

In Zimbabwe, the drainage area is a combination of national park area, exotic forest plantations in the upstream reaches, and mixed agriculture in the middle and lower valleys. The Nyamukwarara River, a tributary of the Honde, drains some alluvial gold mining and panning areas in both Zimbabwe and Mozambique, where it collects a large quantity of sediment that remains visible along the river beyond Tete Bridge in Mozambique.

THE BIOPHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT

2

3

After crossing Zimbabwe, the Pungwe River fl ows in a south-easterly direction into Mozambique. It fl ows through mixed farmlands, traversing along the south-ern border of the Gorongosa National Park (GNP), where it enters the fl oodplain, and thence into the Pungwe estuary (intertidal zone). It then fl ows into the Indian Ocean at Beira Port.

The main tributaries of the Pungwe in Mozambique are the Nhazonia, the Txatora, the Vunduzi and the Urema rivers rising from the north to join the main river on its left bank, and the Honde, the Metuchira and the Muda from the south. The Urema system is fed from the Vanduzi River (locally known as Vunduzi) in the north-west and the Mucambezi River in the north-east. The former originates from the Gorongosa Mountain

at an elevation of 1,863 m amsl. The Mucambezi system rises south of the shallow divide separating the Pungwe and Zambezi sub-systems. Both tributa-ries fl ow southwards into the seasonal Urema Lake, which exits into Urema River and thence into the main Pungwe stem.

The physiography and drainage pattern of the basin is illustrated in the 3-dimensional map below. On the opposite page a fi gure shows the principal tributaries of the Pungwe River in Mozambique in relation to the GNP and the Gorongosa Mountain.

Urema Lake varies considerably in size from a minimum of about 10 km2 during the dry season to 120 km2 during periods of high river fl ow. Around

the lake, the terrain is very fl at, with the fl ood plain ecosystem very sensitive to changes in the fl ow regime.

The waters of the lake and downstream Urema River are generally referred to as ‘white waters’ due to their distinctive yellow-ochre colour and opaqueness that perpetuates downstream below the confl uence with the main Pungwe River.

The lower basin is just a few metres above sea level and is often subjected to fl ooding during the rainy season. During low river fl ows sea water fl ows back into the river, reaching up to about 80 to 100 km from the mouth.

Climate and General Hydrology

The major infl uences on climate in the Pungwe River Basin are the altitude and orography (relief), in com-bination with proximity to the ocean. It ranges from tropical continental in the west to tropical humid in the coastal areas in the east. From the Mozambican channel the general relief is characterised by low-lying land, which rises rapidly as it approaches the eastern slopes of the Inyangani range. Orographic infl uences are more pronounced in the western part of the basin, where altitudes increase from 600 m to over 2,500 m amsl, over a relatively short distance. This orographic pattern forces oceanic air, when it prevails, to rise up the eastern slopes, cooling in the process, and if suffi ciently moist, resulting in cloud formation and often precipitation. The cloud forma-tion also lowers surface temperature by blocking the sun’s rays.

Across the basin, average minimum temperatu-res range from 22oC in the coastal areas to 9.9oC in the higher areas of Inyangani Mountain range, with maxima ranging from 29oC to 19.8oC as alti-

THE BIOPHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT

4

tude increases. In the higher altitudes all year round temperatures are among the lowest in Zimbabwe. These low temperatures have a moderating effect on evapotranspiration in the region, compared to other parts of the country.

The effect of orograghy on rainfall is more pronoun-ced in the upper reaches of the basin where there is a rapid increase in altitude, as shown in the 3D model below to the right. Orographic effects on rain-fall are also clearly illustrated by the drastic change in specifi c runoff between gauging stations located on different altitudes.

A similar effect is also experienced in the Gorongosa Mountain, in Mozambique, which receives signifi cantly more rainfall compared to the surrounding areas.

In general, the main rainfall infl uences in the Pungwe catchment area are the movements of the Inter-tropical

Convergence Zone (ITCZ), and the South East Trades.

The infl uence of the ITCZ normally extends from around November to March. The ITCZ is a complex zone where the following three distinct air currents converge:

1. The South East trades from the Indian Ocean covering Mozambique and Zimbabwe

2. The South West Trades of the Atlantic Ocean approaching Zimbabwe from the North West and commonly referred to as Zaire Air

3. The North East monsoon fl owing out of the Asiatic High in the region of the Arabic sea

The South East trades are responsible for winter rainfall falling between April and September in the higher areas of the basin. In the Nyanga region, winter rainfall consti-tutes approximately 12% of annual rainfall in the area.

Zimbabwe

Mozambique

1220

1600

2010

2730 2100

2290

1490

1330

Rainfall (mm/year)

5

Geology and Soils

In the western parts, the geology of the Pungwe River Basin is dominated by extensive deeply incised gra-nites with occasional dyke intrusives. This geologi-cal characteristic has given rise to the formation of high mountain peaks (Inyangani Mt), deep gorges (Pungwe Gorge) and valleys, as well as rapids and falls (Pungwe Falls) in the vicinity of the dykes. Occa-sional gneissic rock is observed in the geology of the Honde River drainage area. In the central part of the Basin, in Mozambique, geology is dominated by the basement complex consisting of mountains (Gorongosa Mt), upland and middle plateau. Towards the east geology gives way to mainly sandstones in the Sena Plains and Cheringoma Plateau that are divided by a continuation of the East African Rift Val-ley system. The western part of the basin consists of red soils of considerable depth in some areas, which become shallower in the mountain areas. Towards the east,

soils below the plateau range from clayey-sandy fl u-vial dark soils to shallow soils with little agricultural potential.

Flora

The fi gure on the opposite page shows the distribution of 16 broad vegetation types of the Pungwe River Basin.

The dominant type of vegetation, that occupies approximately 50% of the basin, is the miombo woodland. A total of fi ve different species of miombo woodland occur in the basin, depending on altitude and rainfall.

Two important vegetation relics of moist evergreen forests occur on the Gorongosa Mountain, and on the slopes and gullies of the Inyangani Mountain range, along the border between Mozambique and Zimbabwe. These uni-que ecosystems have been created by micro-climates that occur in the high altitude, high rainfall areas. Around the Urema Lake and the fl ood plains, vast

areas are fl ooded during the wet season giving rise to fl oating pastures and conspicuous fl owering water lilies. This lush and verdant growth gives way to a contrasting layer of brown shriveled grass in the dry season.

Towards the coast, in the fl ood plain, mangrove com-munities occur on inter-riverine islands and mudfl ats of the Pungwe-Buzi estuary.

In the eastern highlands of Zimbabwe, approxima-tely 53 km2 is covered with alien Black Wattle and Mexican Pine, including smaller areas of Australian Blackwood. These commercially grown species are a threat to the natural ecosystem in the upland areas through invasion by wind-borne seeds and subse-quent suppression of the indigenous species.

THE BIOPHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT

6

Specially protected species likely to be encountered in the Pungwe River Basin include:

• Fire lily, on the edge of the escarpment from Mount Inyangani, south of Mtarazi Falls

• Flame lily, at the forest margin among bracken and woodland on the highveld

• Tree ferns, in and around the Pungwe Gorge

• Orchids, within miombo woodlands and forests, especially along rivers, vleis, bogs and montane grasslands

• Cycads, in the Nyanga and Gorongosa national parks

7

Fauna

In the Pungwe River Basin, signifi cant occurrence of large mammals is mainly confi ned to the protec-ted areas of Gorongosa and Nyanga national parks. In the GNP, Tinley has described the “spectacularly rich wildlife of the Rift Valley” as being ”a conse-quence of the mosaic evolution of forest thicket and savannah, abutted against a fl oodplain grassland ecosystem of high primary productivity on base saturated soils”. This wildlife, comprising most of the major large tropical mammals was almost decima-ted during the civil war of Mozambique. Efforts are underway to restore this regionally important wildlife sanctuary to its previous glory. These may, howe-ver, be under a new threat from current proliferating human settlements.

There are some rare and vulnerable fi sh species in the Pungwe River, particularly in the upper reaches of the river. These cold water species dominate the upper sections of the river, where the water is of low conductivity. Warm water and marine species become more common in the lower reaches, e.g. the endemic Beira killifi sh, pictured above.

Vegetation types of conservation concerns

Vegetation types of conservation concern that are directly reliant on water are:

• The seasonally inundated Gorongosa Tandos that links Zambezi Valley in the north with the Pungwe system in the south through the Urema Trough (Rift Valley)

• The seasonally inundated grasslands of the lower Pungwe/Buzi fl ood plains comprising approximately 4,500 km2 of wetland

• The estuarine mangroves

• The rain forest at the Pungwe Falls (pictured to the right)

The above provide crucial habitats for a variety of fauna, some of which are endemic and/or threatened. Protected conservation areas include the 5,370 km2 Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique, created in 1960, and the 330 km2 Nyanga National Park in the eastern highlands of Zimbabwe.

THE BIOPHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT

8

9

Settlements

The Pungwe River is a shared watercourse between Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Consequently, the man-ner in which water resources are utilised, and landuse is managed in the upstream riparian state (Zimbabwe) have an impact on the downstream state (Mozambique). Administratively, the basin covers Mutasa Rural District, Nyanga National Park, and a small part of Nyanga Rural District in Zimbabwe. In Mozambique, it straddles parts of Sofala and Manica provinces.

In general, settlements in the Pungwe River Basin consist of rural village communities, a few scattered small urban centres, growth points and commercial farms and estates. These are concentrated along the river valleys, in the fl ood plains, along main roads, and around administrative centres. The City of Beira in Mozambique is the main urban and industrial cen-tre in the basin. The largest administrative and com-mercial centre in the basin in Zimbabwe is Hauna Growth Point. Other towns of importance in the basin in Mozambique are Chimoio on the catchment boun-dary, Gondola, Nhamatanda and Gorongosa.

Population

As at year 2003, the Pungwe River Basin had an esti-mated total population of 1,199,567 persons, of which 8% resided in Zimbabwe. It is estimated that by year 2023, the total population in the basin will have reached some two million persons.

The overall population density in the basin is higher in Zimbabwe compared to Mozambique. However, in the latter part of the basin, populations become denser in hinterland areas around towns and admi-

nistrative centres, as well as along main roads. The population distribution in the basin, divided into sub-basins, is shown in the fi gure below.

Economic Activities

Economic activities among basin communities are largely agro-based. They include crop and livestock production, forestry, fi sheries, gold mining and eco-tourism. Agriculture is a mixture of subsistence dry land and irrigated crop farming.

SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONDITIONS OF THE PUNGWE RIVER BASIN

10

The upper part of the basin that lies in Zimbabwe sup-ports intensive agriculture in the densely populated Mutasa Communal Lands and large-scale commercial coffee, tea and forest plantations. The southern portion of the Nyanga National Park, an important tourist loca-tion, is drained by the headwaters of the Pungwe River. The City of Mutare abstracts raw water from the river just upstream of the scenic Pungwe Falls.

The middle section of the Pungwe River Basin in Mozambique has hitherto been largely underdeveloped and sparsely populated, with a potential for irrigation agriculture, tourism and wildlife development. In recent years there has been a steady increase in investments in large-scale commercial farming of important crops such as maize, tobacco and horticulture products, par-ticularly in the Manica Province.

In the lower part of the basin, the fl oodplain, there are major natural resource, economic and social inte-

rests comprising the Gorongosa National Park (GNP), a large sugar cane irrigation estate, Beira/Dondo City water supply, and prawn farming and fi shing around the estuary. In the fl oodplain, below the Bue Maria dam site, there is a huge potential for agricultural development due to the occurrence of fertile soils and the possibility of a major dam on the Pungwe River. In addition, the ongoing rehabilitation of eco-tourism in GNP and adjoi-ning areas has the potential to create favourable condi-tions for economic development in the basin.

Health and Sanitation

The status of health facilities in the basin is gene-rally poor, particularly in Mozambique. In Zimbabwe, which is endowed with better infrastructure, services are deteriorating due to diminishing resources.

The major problems concerning health management in Mozambique are related to:

• poor coverage and, consequently, limited access to quality services

• access to clean water and adequate sanitation

• lack of education on disease prevention

• low literacy levels

• underdeveloped poverty alleviation strategies

Sanitation facilities in the basin are still generally basic, and largely based on pit latrine or the use of the open bush. Coverage is variable, with more facilities in Zim-babwe compared to Mozambique.

The HIV/AIDS pandemic is exerting considerable pres-sure on an already stressed health delivery system in the basin. It is estimated that about 20% of the popu-lation in the basin are HIV positive, and that by 2010, the projected life expectancy will be reduced to 36.5 years of age.

11

Education

The education status in the basin is variable. Whereas in Mozambique most pupils that complete Level 1 primary school do not proceed to higher grades, in Zimbabwe, the majority of pupils in the education system proceed to secondary school. Remote areas in Mozambique are particularly poorly served, with the few existing secon-dary schools located in the district capitals.

In Mozambique, the critical shortage of qualifi ed teaching staff compounds the problem. The educa-tion network is, however, steadily developing. The Ministry of Education is implementing short training courses to upgrade teachers in co-operation with partners such as UNICEF and GTZ.

Gender and Poverty

Poverty in the basin continues to be a major setback to sustainable development, despite abundant water and other natural resources. This is exacerbated by entren-ched inequalities in the distribution and control of natu-ral resources such as land and water in favour of men.

In Zimbabwe, women have representation in the decision-making bodies such as catchment and subcatchment councils. The water sector in Mozam-bique also recommended that women be included in water committees. It is hoped that these progres-sive administrative arrangements will be backed by the necessary political will to promote the partici-pation of women in water affairs, and development in general.

With regard to poverty, the majority of rural house-holds in the Pungwe River Basin have incomes that fall below a level that satisfi es basic needs.

Infrastructure

Water Supply, Dams

The Pungwe River Basin in Zimbabwe has only one large dam on the Nyawamba River, with a capacity of 17 million m3, and a small 40,000 m3 impoundment on the Nyamasupa River. Nyawamba Dam is owned and operated by the Eastern Highlands Tea Estate.

There are no large dams in the Pungwe River Basin in Mozambique with the exception of 19 small dams used for crop irrigation.

Major Water Supply Schemes

Major water supply schemes located on the Pungwe River include the Pungwe Mutare Water Supply Project, and the Mafambise Sugar Estate/Beira Water Supply System.

Other Water Supply Schemes

Other water supply schemes comprise small piped water supply schemes on tributaries of the Pungwe River in Zimbabwe, and several small irrigation sche-mes in both countries.

Sanitation

Sanitation facilities in the catchment are largely based on pit latrines for rural villages, with the exception of Hauna and Beira City where water-based systems have been developed.

Energy

The Pungwe River Basin is supplied with electricity from the national grids of Zimbabwe and Mozambique.

SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONDITIONS OF THE PUNGWE RIVER BASIN

12

However, distribution is limited to the major urban and administrative centres, and some large-scale com-mercial farms and plantations. The majority of the rural communities are not connec-ted to electricity, and rely on wood fuel for domestic energy. Deforestation, and the risk of soil erosion are therefore a serious threat to the natural environment and the associated wildlife habitats.

Roads and Railways

The major centres in the basin are generally serviced with a good network of tarred national roads. These are well maintained by the national authorities. However, road communication in the remote areas is very poor, and con-sists of largely unserviced gravel roads and tracks.

Although the secondary road network in Zimbabwe is better, most villages are not serviced due to the moun-tainous terrain that complicates road construction.

The Port of Beira is linked to Mutare by a railway line.

However, traffi c along the line has been greatly redu-ced in recent years, probably due to the combination of the residual effects of the civil war in Mozambique, and the current decline in the economy of Zimbabwe.

Telecommunications

Mostly the major centres, and some large-scale com-mercial farms and schools are served with fi xed telep-hone services. Both Mozambique and Zimbabwe have mobile telephone services. However, coverage is also limited to the major centres and along some sections of the primary road network.

13

Measurement and Monitoring

The assessment or quantifi cation of water resources requires the measurement of rainfall, evaporation and stream fl ow on a continuous basis. Pursuant to this requirement, meteorological and water management authorities in Mozambique and Zimbabwe operate networks of gauges for the measurement of these hy-drological parameters. The distribution of these sta-tions, existing and historical, are shown in the fi gure to the right.

In general, available rainfall records have been col-lected for longer periods than river fl ow records. The measurement of rainfall is also more simplifi ed such that its data is usually readily available in suffi cient time length and spatial distribution.

Rainfall Stations

In the basin, Mozambique and Zimbabwe respecti-vely have rainfall data from 77 and 18 identifi ed sta-tions. Three of the stations in Zimbabwe and six in Mozambique are described as synoptic because they include the measurement of evaporation data and other weather parameters such as barometric pres-sure, temperature and humidity. Ideally, the distribution of rainfall stations in a catch-ment should be as uniform as possible, and take into account variations in relief. However, in the basin, this requirement is constrained by the poor road network coupled with the uneven distribution of settlements, particularly in Mozambique. Further-more, a signifi cant proportion of rainfall data in the catchment has missing data, and of questionable accuracy.

Flow Gauging Stations

Flow gauging provides a direct measure of the surfa-ce water resources of the catchment. River fl ows are normally measured on a daily or continuous basis, manually or by means of an automatic stage recor-der. The parameter measured in the fi eld is the depth, which is then transformed into stream fl ow by means of a previously developed rating curve.

In the Pungwe Basin, fl ow data is available from 22 stations in Mozambique, and four in Zimbabwe. The lengths of these fl ow records range from 1953 to cur-rent. Nearly all the data series from the gauging sta-tions contain gaps, usually where fl ow measurements were not made for various reasons.

Before use in the assessment of water resources, historical fl ow records are fi rst screened and then repaired or extended through mathematical relations (models) with gauged rainfall.

WATER RESOURCES OF THE PUNGWE RIVER BASIN

14

Rainfall in the Pungwe River Basin

Water resources in a river basin, in particular surface water, are a function of rainfall. Higher rainfall transla-tes into high unit runoff into rivers. The effect of rainfall on groundwater depends on the relative distribution of recharge areas, the geology of the area, and the nature of groundwater movements.

Mean annual precipitation in the basin ranges from above 2,020 mm in the high elevation areas of Inyangani Moun-tain range, in Zimbabwe, to about 1,180 mm in the Pungwe Estuary. The fi gure below shows the mean annual rainfall for the Pungwe River Basin, divided into sub-basins.

Potential evaporation lies between 1,380 to 1,590 mm, depending on temperature and relative humidity.

15

Surface Water Resources

The main source of water in the Pungwe River Basin is surface water. A sound understanding of the long-term surface water resources of the basin is essential for the sustainable development of the basin.

The long-term water resources of the Pungwe River Ba-sin have been determined for the various sub-basins, and at selected locations along the main river.

Mean annual runoff in mm/yr by sub-basin is shown in the fi gure to the right. The effect of rainfall on unit runoff is clearly indicated.

TOTAL OUTFLOW TO THE INDIAN OCEAN

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1800

2000

oct nov dec jan feb mar apr may jun jul aug sep

Ave

rage

flow

(Mm

3/m

onth

)

Exceedance of 20% (Wet year)

Exceedance of 50% (Medium year)

Exceedance of 75% (Dry year)

The table shows the relative contributions to long-term runoff of the basin areas in Zimbabwe and Mozambique.

Although Zimbabwe is only about 5% of the total basin area, it accounts for 28% of the total runoff. Water use in Zimbabwe is therefore likely to have a major impact on water resources in Mozambique.

The graph to the right shows the mean monthly distribution of stream fl ow at the Pungwe River mouth. On average, the highest fl ows occur around the month of February.

Point Area Natural MAR Natural MAR Percentage[km2] [million m3/year] [mm/year] of total

Zimbabwe 1 463 1 191 814 28%Mozambique 29 687 3 004 101 72%TOTAL 31 150 4 195 135 -

WATER RESOURCES OF THE PUNGWE RIVER BASIN

Based on data from the period 1960-80

16

Groundwater

Large areas of the Pungwe River Basin have mode-rate to low groundwater potential, with the exception of small parts of the Upper Pungwe where the poten-tial can be considered to be high.

It is expected that zones along rivers are likely to have high yields of groundwater, depending on the prevailing geology.

Floods

Floods cause frequently problems in the lower parts of the Pungwe River Basin. In the three consecutive years 1999-2001 very high water levels occurred in the Pungwe River, causing large damage to, among others, the national road between Beira and Chimoio. The fl ood in 2001 is the highest observed fl ood at the runoff station at the Pungwe Bridge since the start of observations in the 1950s.

The main characteristic of the fl oods in the lower basin is that they are long-lasting with very long periods of high water levels. The 1999 and 2001 fl oods show periods of 2-3 months with very high fl ows. Floods such as these ones are very diffi cult to mitigate. More moderate fl oods may, however, be possible to mitigate to a higher degree through dams.

Floods are, however, important for the ecology of the river system. Flood plain cultivation and the estuarine fauna are dependent on the nutrients that are fl ushed out during high fl ow periods.

17

Sources of Water Pollution

The water quality of the basin is affected by human settlements, the geology and soil, and vegetation. Hu-man settlements invariably alter the natural state of the quality of both surface and groundwater through the different uses of land, and water use for domestic, mining, industrial, and agricultural purposes.

The main sources of water pollution in the Pungwe Ri-ver Basin are rural and urban settlements, agriculture, afforestation, gold panning and salt water intrusion. Although the latter is a natural phenomenon, it can be exacerbated by high abstraction of water from the river during the low fl ow season.

With the exception of alluvial gold mining in the Ny-amukwarara River, most of the potential sources of pollution are not considered to be serious at present. Large quantities of sediment are routinely released into the Nyamukwarara River as a result gold panning activities.

Ambient Water Quality

Water quality in the upper reaches of the Pungwe River in Zimbabwe is almost pristine because of the existence of Nyanga National Parks where hu-man settlements are forbidden by law. For the rest of the catchment, land-use and sanitation practice play a major role in determining the water quality in the basin’s rivers. The rural character of the basin’s settlements has a signifi cant infl uence on the nature of the ambient water quality. Both point and diffuse water pollution can be expected in the basin, from large-scale commercial and communal subsistence agriculture, as well as the general sanitation practice in the basin.

WATER QUALITY IN THE PUNGWE RIVER BASIN

18

Artisanal Gold Mining

Uncontrolled gold panning in the Nhamacurara River poses serious water quality problems, particularly during the dry season, when the dilution factor is low. Due to functional defi ciencies in the Beira City se-wage network, the concentrations of bacteria, orga-nic matter and suspended solids in the lower estuary area are expected to be high.

in the surroundings of the tributary Nhamacurara River in Manica Province, which are, at some places, destroyed. As of today, the informal gold mining ac-tivities have spread in the Pungwe River Basin, and take place as far downstream in the basin as Muda River in Sofala Province.

Apart from erosion directly caused by the gold panning the natural erosion, especially during the rain periods, is also increased since the protecting upper layer of soil and vegetation is removed in the gold mining areas. This leads to further erosion and destruction of arable land.

The eroded sediment from the mining activities ends up in the Pungwe River system. The suspended sediment consists mainly of reddish-brown silt and clay, with a negligible proportion of fi ne sand. Because of the fi ne particle sizes the sediment stay in suspension and the red colour of the suspended sediments can thus be seen all the way down to the Pungwe Estuary.

The suspended sediments make the water unsuitable for drinking, washing and irrigation, bury the aquatic fauna, prevent the photosynthesis and have effects on the fi sh population.

Salt Water Intrusion

The tidal variations in the ocean at the Pungwe Estu-ary are considerable being in the order of 7-8 m. The water intake of the Mafambisse pumping plant loca-ted about 90 km upstream, currently also used for the Beira Water Supply, is therefore affected from time to time. The salinity intrusion has forced Aguas de Moçambique to relocate the Beira Water Supply in-take some 40 km upstream. The problem of saline water for the pumping plant serving Mafambisse Su-gar Estate however remains and causes interruptions in the irrigation practises.

The tidal variation involves several cycles. Besides the daily cycle with two spring tides per day the magnitude varies several metres in a 2-week cycle. Further, there is a seasonal cycle with the highest ti-dal differences occurring twice every year. By using free software the tidal levels can be calculated for any place and time. The dates with extreme tides can the-refore be easily predicted.

Mining have been conducted in the Pungwe River ba-sin for several hundred years. However, since 2003 the sediment concentrations in the river have vastly increased due to an increase of informal gold mining activities. Before, these activities mainly took place

19

Uses of Water in the Pungwe River Basin

The uses of water in the basin refl ect its socio-econo-mic conditions and existing water developments. The main consumers of water from the Pungwe River and its tributaries are as follows:

• rural domestic consumers through piped schemes and undeveloped abstraction facilities

• the urban domestic and industrial consumers of Beira/Dondo and Mutare cities

• small and large-scale irrigators

• forestry

The largest water user in the Pungwe River basin is the agricultural sector. Irrigation stands in average for more than 80% of the total use of water. The second largest water use is urban water supply to Beira and Mutare. Although, Mutare is outside the Pungwe River

Water supply demand 2003:Urban: Beira/Dondo 25 339 m3/day

Mutare 60 480 m3/dayRural: Mozambique 10 306 m3/day

Zimbabwe 1 962 m3/day

TOTAL: 98 087 m3/day or

35.8 million m3/year

Basin it receives its water by inter-catchment transfer through the Pungwe-Mutare tunnel and pipeline.

Rural water supply is in comparison with the agricul-tural and urban supply very small and is generally supplied by small local groundwater schemes.

Water Demand in the Pungwe River Basin

As at 2003, water demand in the basin was estimated at 35,8 million m3 per year for domestic and industrial use, and between 146 and 260 million m3 per year for agricultural use, including forestry and livestock.

Future water demand depends on the general socio-economic development in the Pungwe River Basin. Estimates indicate that in a medium development scenario the total water demand in the basin will in-crease to between 750 and 800 million m3 per year in year 2025. It is estimated that approximately 15-25% of this future water demand is in Zimbabwe.

WATER USE IN THE PUNGWE RIVER BASIN

Irrigation and forestry demand 2003:Forestry: Mozambique 7.5-10 million m3/year

Zimbabwe 16-21 million m3/yearLivestock: Mozambique 0.5 million m3/year

Zimbabwe -Irrigation: Mozambique 84-190 million m3/year

Zimbabwe 38 million m3/year

TOTAL: 146-260 million m3/year

20

Water Balance

In this context, a water balance refers to the compa-rison of estimated volumetric use of water with total available resources.

It is evident that water resources in the basin are cur-rently under-utilised. Considering that the long-term total surface water resources of the Pungwe River are estimated to about four billion m3/year, the future estimated water demand in 2025 comprises only one fi fth of the available resource.

The variation of water resources is, however, large both temporally and spatially. Cyclic pattern with many wet years followed by consecutive dry years are typical for southern Africa. Dry periods such as the one in the early 1990s set the limits for secure water supply even if the average fl ow is normally suffi cient to cover the average demand.

The fi gure shows the mean annual runoff for the last 50 years (Mm3/year). The red line denotes the average annual river fl ow. The large inter-annual variation in water resources in the Pungwe River Basin causes large demands on water man-agement. Dry spells, e.g. 1991-1995, create large stress on the water users.

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A water balance analysis, taking into account the tem-poral variability, shows that measures are needed to supply the Mutare urban water if the sole source should be Pungwe. In 2025 severe water shortages will oc-cur if a dam is not constructed upstream the present Mutare pipeline intake or other sources are utilised. The Beira water requirements of 2025, however will probably be supported without further infrastructure in the Pungwe River, provided that the water intake is not suffering saline water intrusion.

For most of the tributaries in Pungwe River Basin the full irrigation requirements of 2025 can be met by the natural runoff. Local small-scale dams would most probably give full assurance of supply in these areas. However, in the lower part of the basin the 2025 medium requirements would originate from large scale sugar cane, which cannot be met without major regulating dams.

21

Pungwe River Basin Management

There are fi ve shared water courses between Zim-babwe and Mozambique comprising the Pungwe, Buzi, Sabi, Zambezi and Limpopo rivers, as shown in the fi gure to the right. In all cases, Mozambique is the downstream riparian state. Water management in the two states is provided for through the following national laws:

• Mozambique - Water Act Lei No 16/91

• Zimbabwe - Water Act [Chapter 20:24] No 31/98

• Zimbabwe - Zimbabwe National Water Authority Act [Chapter 20:25] No 11/98 Country to coun try (bilateral) co-operation in water manage ment is addressed through the following inter national conventions, regional protocols and related declarations

• The United Nations Convention on the law of the non navigational uses of international water courses, 1997

• The revised Protocol on shared waters in the SADC, 2000

• The Convention on the conservation of nature and natural resources, September 1997

• The Constitutive Act of the African Union (June 2000) and NEPAD • The Abuja Ministerial Declaration on Water - a key to sustainable development, April 2002

WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT IN THE PUNGWE RIVER BASIN

22

National Statutes

The Water Law of Mozambique

The Water Act Lei No 16/91 was promulgated in 1991 based on the principle of decentralisation in water resources management, at operational level.

It paved the way for the creation of fi ve Regional Water Administrations (ARAs) on the basis of conti-guous river basins. ARA-Centro is responsible for the technical and administrative management of water resources of the Pungwe, Save and Buzi river basins. Its mandate also includes the planning, design, con-struction, operation and maintenance of the hydro-meteorological network, as well as hydraulic works.

The Water Law of Zimbabwe

The Water Act, Chapter 20:24 of 1998 is the umbrella law for the management and administration of all water affairs in Zimbabwe. It provides for the declara-tion of ‘river systems’ or Catchment Areas. There are currently seven river systems in Zimbabwe whose boundaries have been established through a Statu-tory Instrument No 34 of 2000, for the management of water in Zimbabwe. The Catchment Area is administered by Catchment Council, an elected body of stakeholders that has been created through Statutory Instrument 209 of 2000, to control and administer water affairs in the catchment. Each Catchment Area is subdivided into subcatchments, to provide for water management by an elected subcatchment council within a more loca-lised river subsystem.

The Pungwe Subcatchment in Zimbabwe falls inside the jurisdiction of the Save Catchment together with the Odzi, Upper Save, Lower Save, Lower Save West,

Macheke, Budzi and Devure subcatchments.

The Water Act provides for the appointment of a Catchment Manager who is an employee of the Zim-babwe National Water Authority, (ZINWA).

The Catchment Manager (CM) is responsible for the day-today management and administration of the affairs of the Catchment Council. For expediency, the functions of the Catchment Council are delegated on the CM’s offi ce, as appropriate, in the normal course of business. The CM performs his duties under the direction of the Catchment Council with supervision from ZINWA.

In terms of the Water Act, the principal functions of the Catchment Council are as summarised below.

1. To prepare a Catchment Outline Plan (COP) for its river system.

2. To determine and grant water use permits.

3. To regulate and supervise the exercise of rights to the use of water.

4. To ensure proper compliance with the Act and to supervise subcatchment councils (SCC).

The SCC is the operational arm of the CC in the regulation and supervision of the exercise of rights to water within the area for which it was established.

In addition to its secretarial and advisory responsibi-lities, ZINWA Save Catchment Offi ce has other core functions related to engineering services for the pro-vision of water supply, hydrological data collection and analysis, as well as pollution control.

Bi-lateral Co-operation

The key instrument for bilateral co-operation on inter-national waters in the southern African region is the Revised Protocol on Shared Watercourses in the SADC. Primarily, it addresses key water management issues related to the equitable and sustainable use of shared water resources. To achieve these noble goals, the Protocol provides for the establishment of watercourse commissions, also known as Joint Water Commissions to administer interstate agreements on water affairs, and to provide technical advice. The Joint Water Commission (JWC) for the Pungwe River was created in December 2002. Its core func-tions are to advise the principal states on measures and arrangements to determine potentially available water, utilisation levels, reasonable demand, relevant data and information, criteria for conservation, alloca-tion and sustainable utilisation, and pollution preven-tion of the common water resources.

23

FUTURE WATER RESORCES DEVELOPMENT

Water Resources Development

The development outlook of the Pungwe River Basin depends on a number of issues, some of them not directly in the hands of the basin population and of a macro-political and economic dimension. However, both countries have recently adopted policies which aim at promotion of a sustainable development and use of the water resources as a mean to fi ght poverty, and support economic development in other sectors of society.

Agriculture is the main economic sector in the Pungwe River Basin in both countries. The potential for a future expansion of the agriculture activities in the basin is extensive, however the present hydrau-lic infrastructure is only able to support a fraction of the potential. Increased diversifi cation of crops is tak-ing place, although the dominating crops are still tea, tobacco and sugar cane.

There are no immediate plans for larger industrial estab-lishments in the basin partly because of the lack of sup-porting infrastructure. Agro-industrial developments are slowly growing and have a potential to increase along with growing agriculture and irrigation activities.

Urban and Rural water supply systems are in need of major rehabilitation and expansion to meet national goals for effi cient water use and coverage levels. Both Beira and Mutare display very high water losses in their distribution systems.

The hydropower potential of the Pungwe River in Mozambique should be seen as an interesting possi-bility in the national and regional context, as the power system is interconnected with the Cahora Bassa hydropower plant. Direct Power Export/Exchange between Mozambique and Zimbabwe is another inter-esting possibility.

Flooding is frequent in the lower parts of the Pungwe River Basin. Future irrigation and hydropower dams on the Pungwe River may to some extent mitigate the effects of fl oods in the lower basin, but there is also a need to install fl ood forecasting and fl ood protection sys-tems in the basin. The impact on the river from gold mining activities in the upper catchment is a major problem from a water quality point of view in the Pungwe River. The impact is currently the most apparent environmental problem that needs urgent attention.

Gorongosa National Park would play an important role in tourism development of the basin, attract-ing eco-tourism, but will require rehabilitation and upgrading of its status. The Pungwe, Honde and Nyamakwarara river valleys and the Nyanga National Park in the upper catchment in Zimbabwe, with their surrounding mountains and plateaus, form some of the most spectacular, varied, and interesting scenery in the whole of Southern Africa, and is a candidate for World Heritage status.

24

Stakeholder Participation

Stakeholder participation and consultation are key elements in the development of the Pungwe River Basin. A participatory approach is needed in order to reach consensus for the future development and thus safeguarding that interests and concerns of stake-holders are taken into account in the process of iden-tifi cation and design of projects and programmes.

In Zimbabwe, water users and other stakeholders are organised in the Pungwe Sub-Catchment Council, a legal body under the Water Act. In the Zimbabwean part of the Pungwe River Basin, the Pungwe Sub-Catchment Council is fully operational, has its own offi ce in Hauna and has two paid employees. In the Mozambique part of the Pungwe River Basin ARA-Centro, being a relatively new institution, has just recently established the Pungue Basin Committee.

These stakeholder forums ensure that information on the demands from the water users and other parties reaches the water authorities, while information on regulations and technical issues goes the opposite way. Development programmes on e.g. water demand management, rural water supply, increased reliability of rainfed agriculture and small-scale irrigation and legalising the informal gold miners should be initiated through the stakeholder participation process.

The development of water resources infrastructure will preferably involve an intensive process of stake-holder consultations, as part of the preparation of feasibility studies and implementation activities. Two aspects need to be distinguished. The fi rst is the formal consultation process that any infrastructural development of such a magnitude will require, mostly focused on the directly and indirectly affected parties, such as the land users and communities that reside in the areas affected by the dam construction and the reservoir. The second aspect is that the development of hydraulic infrastructure, being part of a vision for local and regional economic development, should be considered an opportunity to involve stakeholders in that economic development process.

Institutional Roles and Bi-lateral Agreements

The regional water authorities in Mozambique and Zimbabwe, ARA-Centro and ZINWA Save, will have a

key role in the joint development of water resources of the Pungwe River Basin. They will drive the water management in liaison with the stakeholders and carry out the key activities of the development pro-grammes. Also the general growth in water use will require capacity to exercise the authority in terms of planning, approval, and supervision.

For the future joint management of the transboundary Pungwe River there is further a need for a compre-hensive bilateral agreement between Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Both countries have ratifi ed the revised Protocol on Shared Watercourses in the SADC region and a Joint Water Commission has already been established. An agreement based on among others the information in this monograph is thus the next step of implementing a joint integrated water management of the water resources in the Pungwe River Basin.

25

ABBREVIATIONS, ACRONYMS AND DEFINITIONS

ARAs Regional water authorities of Mozambique

CC Catchment Council

CM Catchment Manager

COP Catchment outline plan

Estuary A section of the river near its mouth that experiences tidal activity from the sea

Fauna Animals

Flora Vegetations

Geology A study of the rocks in the earth’s crust

GNP Gorongosa National Park

Hydrology A study of surface water resources and their temporal and spatial variation

JWC Joint Water Commission

MAP Mean Annual Precipitation

MAR Mean Annual Runoff

Orography Relief

Physiography General relief and its relationship to the river system

Pungwe River Baseline information and data on the socio-economic and biophysicalMonograph conditions in the Basin

Rating curve The physical relationship between the surface water level of a stream and its discharge

SCC Subcatchment Council

Stage The surface water level of a stream measured against some specifi ed datum

ZINWA Zimbabwe National Water Authority

THE PUNGWE PROJECT

The Pungwe Project is fi nanced by the Swedish International Development Co-operation Agency (Sida), through an agreement with Zimbabwe and Mozambique. The project is implemented under the auspices of the Department of Water Resources (DWR), Zimbabwe, and the National Directorate of Water (DNA), Mozambique, on behalf of the two governments. The implementing agencies are the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) through the Save Catchment Manager’s Offi ce, and the Regional Water Administration of Central Mozambique (ARA-Centro), respectively.

The project receives technical assistance from a consortium of consulting compa-nies and institutions led by SWECO International AB of Sweden. Other consortium members are listed below.

CONSULTEC – Consultores Associados, Mozambique

IMPACTO – Projectos e Estudos de Impacto Ambiental, Mozambique

UCM – Catholic University of Beira, Mozambique

ICZ – Interconsult Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe

ARCADIS Euroconsult, The Netherlands

OPTO International AB, Sweden

NCG – Nordic Consulting Group of Sweden

SMHI – Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute.

The results of the project that are partly presented in this report are a joint effort from the Client, Funding Agency and the Consultant team listed above. All contributions to the project from the members of the above organisations as well as external persons and organisations are greatly acknowledged.

Information on the Pungwe Project can be obtained at www.pungweriver.net.

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26

LITERATURE

The Pungwe Project has produced the following major reports:

The Pungwe Monograph Report (April 2004):

Main ReportAnnex I Surface Water ResourcesAnnex II Hydrometric NetworksAnnex III Hydrological Data Quality & ModellingAnnex IV Groundwater Resources Annex V Dams and other Hydraulic WorksAnnex VI Water Quality and Sediment transportAnnex VII Water Demand for Water Supply & SanitationAnnex VIII Water Demand for Irrigation and ForestryAnnex IX FisheriesAnnex X Conservation Areas, Wildlife and TourismAnnex XI InfrastructureAnnex XII Socio-economy

Development Scenario Report (December 2005):

Volume I Main ReportVolume II Activities of the Stakeholder ComponentVolume III Technical ReportVolume IV Institutional Capacity Building

Joint IWRM Strategy Report (Draft, February 2006)

CONTACT DETAILS

For further information about the Pungwe Project or the ongoing IWRM work in the basin, please contact:

ARA-Centro - BeiraMr. Manuel Fobra, Directortel. +258 23 324168 or 324153fax +258 23 324163e-mail: mfobra@teledata.mz

ZINWA Save - MutareMr. Thomas Murinye, Catchment Managertel. +263 20 60926fax +263 20 62848e-mail: tmurinye@mutare.mweb.co.zw

SWECO InternationalMr. Lennart Lundberg, Project Directortel. +46 8 6956065fax +46 8 6956050e-mail: lennart.lundberg@sweco.se

Sida (Asdi), MaputoMrs. Gunilla Ölund Wingqvist, Programme Offi cer, Regional Water Resourcestel. +258 21 480300fax +258 21 480390e-mail: gunilla.wingqvist@sida.se

27

I C W S

CIDDI - UCM

ARACENTRO

The Pungwe River Basin Joint Integrated Water Resources Management Strategy (IWRMS) is a co-operative effort by the Governments of Zimbabwe and Mozambique to create a framework for the sustainable and equitable management, development and conservation of the water resources of the Pungwe River basin, with the objective of increasing the derived social and economic benefi ts for the people living in the basin. The Pungwe River is a shared watercourse between the two countries.

The Pungwe Project is fi nanced by the Swedish International Development Co-operation Agency (Sida), through an agreement with Zimbabwe and Mozambique. A team of consultants from Sweden, Netherlands, Mozambique and Zimbabwe, lead by SWECO International, conducts the study together with the implementing agencies in Zimbabwe and Mozambique.

This Pungwe River monograph makes an introduction to the Pungwe River basin and the basis for water resources management in the river basin. The report aims to give the reader an overview of the current situation in the Pungwe River basin regarding the legal and institutional framework for water management, water resources, water demand, development options and environmental and socio-economic conditions.