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The Insiza River is the principal tributary of the
There are four main bridges over the Insiza River:
* Bridge on main
In addition to a number of small
Mzingwane River
The Mzingwane River, formerly known Umzingwane River as or Umzingwani River is a major left-bank tributary of the Limpopo River in Zimbabwe. It rises near Fort Usher, Matobo District, south of Bulawayo and flows into the Limpopo River near Beitb ...
in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe (), officially the Republic of Zimbabwe, is a landlocked country located in Southeast Africa, between the Zambezi and Limpopo Rivers, bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the south-west, Zambia to the north, and Mozam ...
.
It rises near Fort Rixon
Fort Rixon is a village and farming centre in Matabeleland in the Republic of Zimbabwe, located some north-east of Bulawayo
Bulawayo (, ; Ndebele: ''Bulawayo'') is the second largest city in Zimbabwe, and the largest city in the country's ...
, Insiza District
Insiza District is one of the seven districts located in the province of Matabeleland South of Zimbabwe. It is a rural area. Insiza District lies to the South East of Bulawayo in Zimbabwe and borders Gwanda District to the South, Zvishavane Dist ...
, and flows into the Mzingwane River
The Mzingwane River, formerly known Umzingwane River as or Umzingwani River is a major left-bank tributary of the Limpopo River in Zimbabwe. It rises near Fort Usher, Matobo District, south of Bulawayo and flows into the Limpopo River near Beitb ...
near West Nicholson
West Nicholson or Tshabezi is a town in the Matabeleland South Province of Zimbabwe.
Location
It is located in Gwanda District, along the Bulawayo–Beitbridge Highway, approximately , southeast of the town of Gwanda, where the district head ...
.
Hydrology
The upper reaches of the Insiza River are ephemeral, but below Silalabuhwa Dam, the river flows for two-thirds of the year. Major tributaries of the Insiza River include the Inkankezi and Siwaze Rivers.Cities, towns and settlements along the river
The settlements below have are ordered from the beginning of the river to its end: *Fort Rixon
Fort Rixon is a village and farming centre in Matabeleland in the Republic of Zimbabwe, located some north-east of Bulawayo
Bulawayo (, ; Ndebele: ''Bulawayo'') is the second largest city in Zimbabwe, and the largest city in the country's ...
village
* Filabusi
Filabusi is a town in the Matabeleland South Province of Zimbabwe. The town is the district capital of Insiza District and a service centre for the surrounding mining and farming areas.
Location
Filabusi lies off the Mbalabala–Mutare Road, ...
village
Bridges and crossings
There are four main bridges over the Insiza River:
* Bridge on main Mbalabala
Mbalabala (Balla Balla until 1982) is a village on the main Beitbridge-Bulawayo road (at the junction with the Filabusi Road) in Matabeleland, Zimbabwe. Situated approximately 41 miles (66 km) south-east of the city of Bulawayo. The name i ...
- Masvingo
Masvingo is a city in south-eastern Zimbabwe and the capital of Masvingo Province. The city is situated close to Great Zimbabwe, the national monument from which the country takes its name and close to Lake Mutirikwi, its recreational park, th ...
road, near Filabusi
Filabusi is a town in the Matabeleland South Province of Zimbabwe. The town is the district capital of Insiza District and a service centre for the surrounding mining and farming areas.
Location
Filabusi lies off the Mbalabala–Mutare Road, ...
.
* Bridge on Filabusi
Filabusi is a town in the Matabeleland South Province of Zimbabwe. The town is the district capital of Insiza District and a service centre for the surrounding mining and farming areas.
Location
Filabusi lies off the Mbalabala–Mutare Road, ...
- Mataga road .
* Bridge on Filabusi
Filabusi is a town in the Matabeleland South Province of Zimbabwe. The town is the district capital of Insiza District and a service centre for the surrounding mining and farming areas.
Location
Filabusi lies off the Mbalabala–Mutare Road, ...
- West Nicholson
West Nicholson or Tshabezi is a town in the Matabeleland South Province of Zimbabwe.
Location
It is located in Gwanda District, along the Bulawayo–Beitbridge Highway, approximately , southeast of the town of Gwanda, where the district head ...
road .
* Croft Bridge, on the road from Filabusi
Filabusi is a town in the Matabeleland South Province of Zimbabwe. The town is the district capital of Insiza District and a service centre for the surrounding mining and farming areas.
Location
Filabusi lies off the Mbalabala–Mutare Road, ...
to Croft mine.
There are also a number of crossing points, including:
* Ekusileni pontoon (see photo at top of page).
Development
In addition to a number of small weir
A weir or low head dam is a barrier across the width of a river that alters the flow characteristics of water and usually results in a change in the height of the river level. Weirs are also used to control the flow of water for outlets of l ...
s, there are four dams on the Insiza River:
* Upper Insiza Dam
Upper may refer to:
* Shoe upper or ''vamp'', the part of a shoe on the top of the foot
* Stimulant, drugs which induce temporary improvements in either mental or physical function or both
* ''Upper'', the original film title for the 2013 found fo ...
, near Fort Rixon
Fort Rixon is a village and farming centre in Matabeleland in the Republic of Zimbabwe, located some north-east of Bulawayo
Bulawayo (, ; Ndebele: ''Bulawayo'') is the second largest city in Zimbabwe, and the largest city in the country's ...
, built in 1967 with a full supply capacity of 8,829 MCM (million cubic metre
The cubic metre (in Commonwealth English and international spelling as used by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures) or cubic meter (in American English) is the unit of volume in the International System of Units (SI). Its symbol is m ...
s).
* Insiza Dam
Insiza District is one of the seven districts located in the province of Matabeleland South of Zimbabwe. It is a rural area. Insiza District lies to the South East of Bulawayo in Zimbabwe and borders Gwanda District to the South, Zvishavane Dist ...
, previously known as Mayfair Dam and Lake Cunningham, built in 1973, with a full supply capacity of 173,491 MCM. It supplies water to the city of Bulawayo
Bulawayo (, ; Ndebele: ''Bulawayo'') is the second largest city in Zimbabwe, and the largest city in the country's Matabeleland region. The city's population is disputed; the 2022 census listed it at 665,940, while the Bulawayo City Council cl ...
.
* Pangani Dam
Pangani Town is a historic Swahili settlement located on the south eastern shore of Tanga Region, Tanzania. The town lies south of the city of Tanga, at the mouth of the Pangani River. It is the headquarters of the Pangani District. Admini ...
, near Filabusi
Filabusi is a town in the Matabeleland South Province of Zimbabwe. The town is the district capital of Insiza District and a service centre for the surrounding mining and farming areas.
Location
Filabusi lies off the Mbalabala–Mutare Road, ...
, built to supply water for Pangani mine (now closed and site of a youth training institute.
* Silalabuhwa Dam, built in 1966, with a full supply capacity of 23,454 MCM. It is located near the confluence with the Mzingwane River
The Mzingwane River, formerly known Umzingwane River as or Umzingwani River is a major left-bank tributary of the Limpopo River in Zimbabwe. It rises near Fort Usher, Matobo District, south of Bulawayo and flows into the Limpopo River near Beitb ...
and supplies water for irrigation to the Silalatshani Irrigation Scheme and to Colleen Bawn
Colleen Bawn is a town in Zimbabwe.
Location
Colleen Bawn is located in Gwanda District, in Matabeleland South Province, in southwest Zimbabwe. It is approximately , by road, east of Gwanda, the provincial and district headquarters. This is ...
.Chibi, T., Kandori, C. and Makone, B.F. 2005. Mzingwane Catchment Outline Plan. Zimbabwe National Water
Authority, Bulawayo.
References