BY MBONO MDLULI
MBABANE – The rains that continue to fall upon the country are bringing hope to the country’s wetlands such as rivers and dams, whose water levels continue to increase.
According to a report by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy, there are significant increases of major dams throughout the country.
“Following recent rainfall, the Ministry is pleased to report significant increases in the water levels of major dams throughout Eswatini. In this update, Lubovane and Maguga dams are at 81 percent and 71 percent capacity respectively. Mnjoli and Luphohlo Dams have reached 67 percent and 63 percent capacity, while Hawane Dam is at 48 percent,” says part of the report.
The Ministry remains hopeful that the ongoing rainfall and improved river levels will result in a continued restoration of water levels in our country’s dams.
The Ministry would like to also stress the importance of efficient water use to sustain these positive developments. The current rainy season offers a unique opportunity to restore our dams to optimum levels, but we must remain vigilant in our efforts to conserve water.
In addition to our update on dam levels, the Ministry wishes to issue a safety warning to the public. With the current rainfall, certain rivers in Eswatini are experiencing flooding, including Mkhondvo, Lusutfu and Ngwempisi. These conditions can be extremely dangerous and should be avoided at all costs.
The Ministry strongly advises against crossing flooded bridges by car or on foot, as this poses a significant risk to motorists and pedestrians. Similarly, children should be kept away from swimming in rivers as the risk of drowning due to flash floods is high.
The wetlands’ water levels increase at a time when most Emaswati were beginning to lose hope that the levels would ever increase. On December 30, 2024, the dams were reported to be at a lowest capacity because of the heatwaves that hit the country during October and November. Dam levels on December 30 were at 50 percent for Luphohlo and 66 for Maguga, while for Hawane, the levels were at 39 percent.
The dire situation prompted Minister of Natural Resources and Energy His Royal Highness (HRH) Prince Lonkhokhela to commission a delegation of experts to inspect the dams’ status at the time. The fact-finding mission was led by the Ministry’s Acting Principal Secretary (PS) Sicelo Nxumalo.
The dams serve as Eswatini’s most important resources, as they help the country in the production of most important commodities, such as food and electricity. Luphohlo Dam, which is managed by the Eswatini Electricity Company (EEC), is a key source of hydropower generation in the country. Hawane Dam, managed by the Eswatini Water Services Corporation (EWSC), supplies potable water to the towns of Mbabane and Ezulwini. Maguga Dam, under the management of KOBWA, serves as a crucial source of hydropower generation while also supporting irrigation in the country.
Rivers such as Nkomati, Black Mbuluzi, and Great Usuthu are also used to irrigate sugar cane in places such as Mhlume, Simunye, and Big Bend, respectively. With many agricultural organisations being established to produce food in the country, this means many of these wetlands would be needed to be put into good use.
