Mwenezi River

{{Infobox river

| name = Mwenezi River

| other_name = Nuanetsi River

| image = Mwenezi River.jpg

| image_size = 300px

| image_caption = Mwenezi River in Zimbabwe lowveld

| map = {{Location map|Mozambique|float=center|border=infobox|label=Mwenezi|lon_dir=E|lat_dir=S|lat_deg= 22|lat_min= 38|lon_deg= 31|lon_min= 48|position=right|width= 250|mark=Cercle rouge 100%.svg|marksize= 20|caption=Location of the Mwenezi River's mouth}}

| source1_location = Insiza District, South Central Zimbabwe

| mouth_location = Limpopo River

| mouth_elevation = {{convert|149|m|ft|abbr=on}}

| subdivision_type1 = Country

| subdivision_name1 = Zimbabwe, Mozambique

| length =

| source1_elevation = {{convert|1195|m|ft|abbr=on}}Height of river in Insiza District, quoted as per Cebuano wiki-article

| discharge1_avg = {{convert|14.34|mm/yr|in/yr|abbr=on}} (unit flow)Görgens, A.H.M. and Boroto, R.A. 1997. Limpopo River: flow balance anomalies, surprises and implications for integrated water resources management. In: Proceedings of the 8th South African National Hydrology Symposium, Pretoria, South Africa.

| basin_size = {{convert|14759|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}

}}

The Mwenezi River, originally known as the Nuanetsi River, is a major tributary of the Limpopo River. The Mwenezi River starts up in south central Zimbabwe and flows south-east along what is known as the Mwenezi River Valley that bisects the district into two sectors.[http://eusoils.jrc.it/esdb_archive/EuDASM/Africa/images/maps/download/afr_zw3003_8to.jpg Mwenezi River & tributaries in Mwenezi (District)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070318115321/http://eusoils.jrc.it/esdb_archive/EuDASM/africa/images/maps/download/afr_zw3003_8to.jpg |date=18 March 2007 }}Flora of Zimbabwe [http://www.zimbabweflora.co.zw/speciesdata/species.php?species_id=102940](accessed 20 February 2008) The river is found in both Zimbabwe and Mozambique. In Zimbabwe it has been known as the Nuanetsi or Nuanetzi River in the past, a name it retains in Mozambique.Ministério da Administração Estatal 2005. Perfil do Distrito de Chicualacuala, Província de Gaza, page 2 {{cite web |url=http://www.undp.org.mz/en/content/download/539/2473/file/Chicualacuala.pdf |title=Archived copy |accessdate=8 August 2008 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081120103720/http://www.undp.org.mz/en/content/download/539/2473/file/Chicualacuala.pdf |archivedate=20 November 2008 }}

The river flows through Gonarezhou National Park on its way to joining the mighty Limpopo River. The Mwenezi river is a major tributary and flows north–south. They do not meet in Zimbabwe, but converge to a distance of {{convert|20|km}} downstream into Chicualacuala District, Mozambique. In between is the Sengwe Communal Land in Chiredzi District of Masvingo Province, mostly a flat and undulating area around {{convert|300|m}} in elevation.

Hydrology

File:Mwenezi at Mwenezi centre.jpg - Beitbridge road, near Rutenga.]]

The Mwenezi River is a river with an intermittent flow generally restricted to the months when rain takes place (November to April), with most flow recorded between December and February, except where it has been modified by dam operations.Love, D., Uhlenbrook, S., Nyabeze, W., Owen, R.J.S., Twomlow, S., Savenije, H., Woltering, L. and van der Zaag, P. 2005. Modelling of hydrological change for IWRM planning: case study of the Mzingwane River, Limpopo Basin, Zimbabwe. In: Abstract Volume, 6th WaterNet/WARFSA/GWP-SA Symposium, Ezulwini, Swaziland, November 2005, p 31.[http://www.uniswa.sz/water2005/papers.htm] The river contributes 6.7% of the mean annual runoff of the Limpopo Basin, making it the third largest tributary to the Limpopo basin.Görgens, A.H.M. and Boroto, R.A. 1997. Limpopo River: flow balance anomalies, surprises and implications for integrated water resources management. In: Proceedings of the 8th South African National Hydrology Symposium, Pretoria, South Africa.

Its major tributaries are the Dinhe, Manyoshi, Mtedzi, Mhondi, Makugwe, Sosonye, Sovoleli, Malole, Mwele and Mushawe rivers.

Settlements

The towns and settlements below are ordered from the source of the river to its mouth:

Chegato mission
Mwenezi village
Mabalauta Camp, Gonarezhou National Park
Malipati village

Bridges and crossings

File:Mwenezi at Mazetese.jpg on the Mwenezi River at Mazetese, upstream of Manyuchi Dam.]]

There are four main bridges spanning the Mwenezi River:

Bridge on main Masvingo - Beitbridge road, near Rutenga, also a rail bridge.
Bridge on Chegato - Mataga road
Bridge on Dinhe - Neshuro road
Bridge near Malipati on road from Chikombedzi

There are also a number of fords.

Development

File:Manyuchi release.jpg, Mwenezi.]]

In addition to a number of small weirs, there is one major dam on the Mwenezi River: Manyuchi Dam in Mwenezi (District), which supplies water to Rutenga and for the irrigation of sugar cane. Water released from the Manyuchi Dam is taken up for these users at Rinette Weir.

Two additional dam sites have been identified between Manyuchi Dam and Mwenezi village, but development is not currently scheduled.Chibi, T., Kandori, C. and Makone, B.F. 2005. Mzingwane Catchment Outline Plan. Zimbabwe National Water

Authority, Bulawayo.

Wildlife

File:Heron Kondo Mwenezi.jpg on the banks of the river. The locals call it 'Kondo' and there are songs about it. 2006]]

The river supports a diverse range of wildlife, including herons, hippos and Nile crocodiles. A number of people lose their lives to these crocodiles, as well as countless domestic animals like goats, calves and donkeys.Crocodile Attack [http://allafrica.com/stories/200704260289.html] (accessed 19 February 2008)