Thuli River
Encyclopedia
The Thuli River, former name Tuli River, is a major tributary of the Shashe River
in Zimbabwe
.
It rises near Matombo Mission, Matobo District, and flows into the Shashe River
near Tuli
village.
Major tributaries of the Thuli River include the Mtshabezi
, Mtshelele
and Mwewe
Rivers.
The Thuli River below Thuli-Makwe Dam is a sand filled channel, with alluvial aquifer
s in the river channel.
There are five main bridges over the Mzingwane River:
There are also a number of fords and crossing points, including:
In addition to a number of small weirs, there is one major dam on the Thuli River:
The Mtshabezi River
(the principal left-bank tributary) is dammed at Mtshabezi, Sheet and Blanket. Mtshabezi Dam
will augment the water supply for the City of Bulawayo
, once a connecting pipeline has been completed. Sheet and Blanket Dams supply water to the City of Gwanda
and Blanket and Vubachikwe Mines.
Two additional dam sites have been selected further downstream:
Shashe River
The Shashe River is a major left-bank tributary of the Limpopo River in Zimbabwe.It rises northwest of Francistown, Botswana and flows into the Limpopo River where Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Africa meet, site of the Shalimpo Transfrontier Conservation Area.- Hydrology :The Shashe River is a...
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 Matombo Mission, Matobo District, and flows into the Shashe River
Shashe River
The Shashe River is a major left-bank tributary of the Limpopo River in Zimbabwe.It rises northwest of Francistown, Botswana and flows into the Limpopo River where Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Africa meet, site of the Shalimpo Transfrontier Conservation Area.- Hydrology :The Shashe River is a...
near Tuli
Tuli
Tuli is a village in the province of Matabeleland South, Zimbabwe. It is located about 90 km west of Beitbridge on the eastern bank of the Shashe River. The village grew around Fort Tuli which was the first settlement built by the Pioneer Column in July 1890 at the place known as Selous Camp...
village.
Hydrology
The Thuli is an ephemeral river, with declining annual unit runoff .Major tributaries of the Thuli River include the Mtshabezi
Mtshabezi River
The Mtshabezi River is a tributary of the Thuli River in southern Zimbabwe.- References :...
, Mtshelele
Mtshelele River
Mtshelele River is a tributary river of the Thuli River in Zimbabwe....
and Mwewe
Mwewe River
Mwewe River is a tributary river of the Thuli River in Zimbabwe....
Rivers.
The Thuli River below Thuli-Makwe Dam is a sand filled channel, with alluvial aquifer
Aquifer
An aquifer is a wet underground layer of water-bearing permeable rock or unconsolidated materials from which groundwater can be usefully extracted using a water well. The study of water flow in aquifers and the characterization of aquifers is called hydrogeology...
s in the river channel.
Cities, Towns and Settlements along the River
The Thuli River passes through no major settlements, only the following business centres:- Freda Mine
- Guyu
- ManamaManama, ZimbabweManama is a ward in Gwanda District of Matabeleland South province in southern Zimbabwe....
Bridges and Crossings
- Bridge on Old Gwanda Road, between Matombo Mission and Blanket Mine.
- Bridge on GwandaGwandaGwanda is the capital of the province of Matabeleland South in Zimbabwe. It is located on the Bulawayo-Beitbridge road and railway. Gwanda was founded in 1900. According to the 1982 Population Census, the town had a population of 4,874...
- KeziKeziKezi is a village in Matabeleland South province in Zimbabwe....
road, below Thuli-Makwe Dam. - Elliot Bridge, upstream of Guyu.
- Bridge on ManamaManama, ZimbabweManama is a ward in Gwanda District of Matabeleland South province in southern Zimbabwe....
- KafusiKafusiKafusi is a ward in Gwanda District of Matabeleland South province in southern Zimbabwe....
road . - Mankonkoni Bridge on Tuli - KafusiKafusiKafusi is a ward in Gwanda District of Matabeleland South province in southern Zimbabwe....
road . This bridge was destroyed by Cyclone Eline.
There are also a number of fords and crossing points, including:
- Ntalale causeway, which was badly damaged by Cyclone Eline.
- Causeway below Thuli gorge
Development
- Thuli–Makwe DamThuli–Makwe DamThuli–Makwe Dam is a reservoir on the Thuli River, west of Gwanda, Zimbabwe with a capacity of 8.3 Mm3....
, west of GwandaGwandaGwanda is the capital of the province of Matabeleland South in Zimbabwe. It is located on the Bulawayo-Beitbridge road and railway. Gwanda was founded in 1900. According to the 1982 Population Census, the town had a population of 4,874...
. It is located near the confluence with the Mtshelele RiverMtshelele RiverMtshelele River is a tributary river of the Thuli River in Zimbabwe....
and supplies water for irrigation.
The Mtshabezi River
Mtshabezi River
The Mtshabezi River is a tributary of the Thuli River in southern Zimbabwe.- References :...
(the principal left-bank tributary) is dammed at Mtshabezi, Sheet and Blanket. Mtshabezi Dam
Mtshabezi Dam
Mtshabezi Dam is a reservoir on the Mtshabezi River, Zimbabwe with a capacity of 11.4 Mm3. It will augment the water supply for the City of Bulawayo, once a connecting pipeline has been completed....
will augment the water supply for the City of Bulawayo
Bulawayo
Bulawayo 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...
, once a connecting pipeline has been completed. Sheet and Blanket Dams supply water to the City of Gwanda
Gwanda
Gwanda is the capital of the province of Matabeleland South in Zimbabwe. It is located on the Bulawayo-Beitbridge road and railway. Gwanda was founded in 1900. According to the 1982 Population Census, the town had a population of 4,874...
and Blanket and Vubachikwe Mines.
Two additional dam sites have been selected further downstream:
- Thuli–MoswaThuli–Moswa DamThuli–Moswa Dam is a proposed reservoir on the Thuli River, south of Gwanda, Zimbabwe with a capacity of 419 Mm3....
, where no development has taken place. - Thuli–ManyangeThuli–Manyange DamThuli–Manyange Dam is proposed a reservoir on the Thuli River, south of Gwanda, Zimbabwe with a capacity of 33 Mm3. It is designed to be co-operated with Thuli–Moswa Dam...
, upstream of Elliot Bridge, where construction was briefly started in 2007 but is now halted..