Zimbabwe ZINWA Water Abstraction Agreement: Who Needs One and How to Apply

Summary of the ZINWA "Water Abstraction Agreement" page. Only stated points are included.

Key points

It is a contract between ZINWA and anyone needing raw water from ZINWA-managed or State-owned dams. For State-owned dams it replaces the surface water permit.
The page says it is needed for uses other than primary domestic use: commercial farming and irrigation, industry and mining, energy generation, and community water schemes.
Agreements are generally non-transferable. In drought, restrictions are applied using hydrological data, with priority to domestic water security.
Under a heading "Section 118 of the Water Act", the page states: operating without a valid agreement constitutes an offence, and fines or imprisonment apply.
Steps: visit the nearest ZINWA Catchment office and complete the form; give proof of land, purpose, estimated volume and abstraction point; ZINWA assesses dam levels and catchment balance; both parties sign.
The page says this typically takes 2 to 4 weeks, depending on complexity and catchment office workload.
Requirements listed: proof of land ownership or lease, crop type if applicable, estimated volume in cubic metres, abstraction point location.
ZINWA is described as a state-owned enterprise established in 2000 under the ZINWA Act (Chapter 20:25), working under the Water Act (Chapter 20:24).

Not verified: rules for boreholes and groundwater, and fees; the pages read do not cover them (the page describes payment arrangements, but this article gives none).

General information only. Not legal advice. Confirm with your ZINWA Catchment office.