Insiza River
Encyclopedia
The Insiza River is the principal tributary of the Mzingwane River
in Zimbabwe
.
It rises near Fort Rixon
, Insiza District
, and flows into the Mzingwane River
near West Nicholson
.
Major tributaries of the Insiza River include the Inkankezi
and Siwaze
Rivers.
There are four main bridges over the Insiza River:
There are also a number of crossing points, including:
In addition to a number of small weirs, there are four dams on the Insiza River:
Mzingwane River
The Mzingwane 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 Beitbridge, downstream of the mouth of the Shashe River and upstream of the mouth of the Bubye River.- Hydrology...
in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
.
It rises near Fort Rixon
Fort Rixon
Fort Rixon is a village and farming centre in Matabeleland in the Republic of Zimbabwe, located some north-east of Bulawayo. It was founded as a military outpost in 1896 during the rebellion of the Matabele nation against British colonial rule of Rhodesia....
, Insiza District
Insiza
Insiza is a constituency of Zimbabwe in the province of Matabeleland South. Insiza is a rural area.More than 1000 votes have been unaccounted for at the 2005 general election. It has been won by the Zanu PF candidate at the 2005 general election. Insiza has been held by the Zanu PF since the 2002...
, and flows into the Mzingwane River
Mzingwane River
The Mzingwane 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 Beitbridge, downstream of the mouth of the Shashe River and upstream of the mouth of the Bubye River.- Hydrology...
near West Nicholson
West Nicholson
West Nicholson or Tshabezi is a village in the province of Matabeleland South, Zimbabwe. It is located about halfway between Zimbabwe's second largest city, Bulawayo, and the border town to South Africa, Beitbridge, along the main road and rail link to South Africa.According to the 1982 Population...
.
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
Inkankezi River
Inkankezi River is a river in Zimbabwe....
and Siwaze
Siwaze River
Siwaze River is a river in Zimbabwe....
Rivers.
Cities, Towns and Settlements along the River
The settlements below have are ordered from the beginning of the river to its end:- Fort RixonFort RixonFort Rixon is a village and farming centre in Matabeleland in the Republic of Zimbabwe, located some north-east of Bulawayo. It was founded as a military outpost in 1896 during the rebellion of the Matabele nation against British colonial rule of Rhodesia....
village - FilabusiFilabusiFilabusi is a district in Matabeleland South province in Zimbabwe. It is the district capital of Insiza and service centre for the surrounding mining and farming areas.Mining in the Filabusi area is now mainly small scale gold mining...
village
Bridges and Crossings
- Bridge on main MbalabalaMbalabalaMbalabala is a village on the main Beitbridge-Bulawayo road in Matabeleland, Zimbabwe. Situated approximately 41 miles south-east of the city of Bulawayo. The name is derived from the Ndebele name for the greater kudu...
- MasvingoMasvingoMasvingo is a town in south-eastern Zimbabwe and the capital of Masvingo Province. The town is close to Great Zimbabwe, the national monument from which the country takes its name.- History :...
road, near FilabusiFilabusiFilabusi is a district in Matabeleland South province in Zimbabwe. It is the district capital of Insiza and service centre for the surrounding mining and farming areas.Mining in the Filabusi area is now mainly small scale gold mining...
. - Bridge on FilabusiFilabusiFilabusi is a district in Matabeleland South province in Zimbabwe. It is the district capital of Insiza and service centre for the surrounding mining and farming areas.Mining in the Filabusi area is now mainly small scale gold mining...
- Mataga road . - Bridge on FilabusiFilabusiFilabusi is a district in Matabeleland South province in Zimbabwe. It is the district capital of Insiza and service centre for the surrounding mining and farming areas.Mining in the Filabusi area is now mainly small scale gold mining...
- West NicholsonWest NicholsonWest Nicholson or Tshabezi is a village in the province of Matabeleland South, Zimbabwe. It is located about halfway between Zimbabwe's second largest city, Bulawayo, and the border town to South Africa, Beitbridge, along the main road and rail link to South Africa.According to the 1982 Population...
road . - Croft Bridge, on the road from FilabusiFilabusiFilabusi is a district in Matabeleland South province in Zimbabwe. It is the district capital of Insiza and service centre for the surrounding mining and farming areas.Mining in the Filabusi area is now mainly small scale gold mining...
to Croft mine.
There are also a number of crossing points, including:
- Ekusileni pontoon (see photo at top of page).
Development
- Upper Insiza Dam, near Fort RixonFort RixonFort Rixon is a village and farming centre in Matabeleland in the Republic of Zimbabwe, located some north-east of Bulawayo. It was founded as a military outpost in 1896 during the rebellion of the Matabele nation against British colonial rule of Rhodesia....
, built in 1967 with a full supply capacity of 8,829 Mm3. - Insiza Dam, previously known as Mayfair Dam and Lake Cunningham, built in 1973, with a full supply capacity of 173,491 Mm3. It supplies water to the City of BulawayoBulawayoBulawayo is the second largest city in Zimbabwe after the capital Harare, with an estimated population in 2010 of 2,000,000. It is located in Matabeleland, 439 km southwest of Harare, and is now treated as a separate provincial area from Matabeleland...
. - Pangani Dam, near FilabusiFilabusiFilabusi is a district in Matabeleland South province in Zimbabwe. It is the district capital of Insiza and service centre for the surrounding mining and farming areas.Mining in the Filabusi area is now mainly small scale gold mining...
, 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 Mm3. It is located near the confluence with the Mzingwane RiverMzingwane RiverThe Mzingwane 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 Beitbridge, downstream of the mouth of the Shashe River and upstream of the mouth of the Bubye River.- Hydrology...
and supplies water for irrigation and to Colleen BawnColleen BawnFor the Dion Boucicault play, please see The Colleen BawnColleen Bawn is a village in the province of Matabeleland South, Zimbabwe. It is located about 153 km south-east of Bulawayo on the main Bulawayo-Beitbridge road...
.