... majority of dams overspilling, public urged on safety

MANZINI - A majority of dams in the country are overspiling. This is according to a statement which was released by the Communications Officer in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy Sikelela Khoza, following the continuous rainfalls in the country. As such, Khoza said as the country was experiencing rainfall in most parts of the country; it urged members of the public to be careful of the increased water levels in the dams.

He mentioned that due to the continuous rainfall which the country received, the spillway gates at Mnjoli Dam had already been opened to ease the pressure exerted by the increased water in the dam. In that regard, he said communities and stakeholders below the Mnjoli dam should be careful of the increased water that would flow downstream.

A source within the ministry clarified that overspilling of dams was normal when a country was receiving huge amounts of rainfall. He said they only consider opening the spillway gates to ease the pressure for the sake of the wall of the dams. The insider added that it should be considered that Eswatini was using water to generate power, thus water was needed the most and should be kept when possible and thus they do not just open the

spillway gates.

Meanwhile, the communications officer in the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy added that South Africa had also issued a warning that most of its dams (upstream of Eswatini) were overspilling and some gates had already been opened, hence the major rivers, such as Mkhondvo, Ngwempisi, Great Usuthu, Little Usuthu, Komati and Lomati would experience increased water flows.