Zimbabwean Institution:

Dept.of Geology, University  of Zimbabwe,
P O Box MP 167, Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe
Telephone: +263 4 303 211    Telefax: +263 4  336 418
Coordinator  Richard Owen

Dept. of Physics, University of Zimbabwe
Dept. of Soil Science & Agricultural Engineering,  University of Zimbabwe
 

Swedish Institution:

Dept. of  Engineering Geology, Lund University
Box 118, 221 00 LUND, Sweden
Telephone +46 46  222 74 25, +46 46  222 9658    Telefax: +46 46 222 91 27
Coordinator  Torleif Dahlin
 
 
 
 

Introduction

In general, the project  aims at strengthening the research capacity at the University of Zimbabwe in hydrogeology, geophysics and remote sensing. During 1989 - 1996 the main objective of this multidisciplinary research project has been to provide scientific information about shallow groundwater aquifer types (dambos)  in Zimbabwe and their suitability for subsistence irrigation. During 1997 - 98 the research project was extended to new areas of research. In addition to strengthening UZ a number of Swedish students have carried out their M.Sc. projects with field investigations in Zimbabwe within the framework of the project.
 

ShallowAquifers

The studies of shallow aquifers, except the remote sensing component of dambo wetlands, are being finished and reporting is under way.

Contact persons: Torleif Dahlin, Richard Owen
 

Deep Aquifers in Matabeleland North

Investigation of the groundwater potential in the Karoo and Kalahari sediments, North Western Zimbabwe. The study aims at assessing deep groundwater resources
in the region, which is affected by insufficient water supplies. In the initial stage the sub-project concentrated on geophysical mapping of the aquifers, but
groundwater recharge aspects, modelling etc. are being included in the coming year.

Contact persons: Gerhard Barmen, Torleif Dahlin, Patience Gwaze, Oswald Gwavava, Richard Owen

University of Zimbabwe geophysics group doing resistivity surveying

Remote sensing for a hydrological classification of dambos

The use  of remote sensing for a hydrological classification of dambos in Mashonaland, Eastern Zimbabwe.  An improvement of the methodology for estimation of evaporation from remotely sensed Landsat TM data is part of the study.

Contact persons: M. Lupankwa, Richard Owen
 

Monitoring groundwater and environmental pollution in the vicinity of urban solid waste disposal sites and at mining waste disposal dumps.

The study aims at establishing guidelines for an effective and economic methodology for monitoring such pollution in Zimbabwe. Special emphasis is put on the degree and extent of groundwater pollution and its interaction with surface water resources.

Contact persons: Kudzai Musiwa, Richard Owen

Mining waste disposal dump at Mvuma

The role of indigenous woodland in the hydrological cycle

The role of indigenous woodland in the hydrological cycle: a study from a paired catchment site, one catchment covered by miombo woodland, the other grassland or crop land.  This is a new subproject to be developed in order to examine the role of indigenous woodland in the hydrogeological cycle.

Contact persons: T. Makumire, Richard Owen
 

Duration, Research Training and Results

Since 1989 a research group of geologists and geophysicists has been developed at the University of Zimbabwe with assistance of an efficient cooperation with the
Department of Geotechnology at Lund University. An external evaluation of the project, commissioned by SAREC in 1996, stated that the groundwater research
group now represents a considerable part of the regional academic expertise in the field.

Until 1996 research activities were focused on the characteristics of shallow groundwater aquifers. Especially the geophysical and hydrogeological field investigations
have been extensive, and now the subprojects dealing with hydrogeology, hydrochemistry and plant water have been completed and reported. In 1996 a new
geophysical subproject was started in the Bulawayo area. This work continues with Zimbabwean candidates studying for higher degrees. The remote sensing
component, centred on the estimation of evaporation using Landsat images, was started in 1991 and is now complete, with a doctoral degree awarded to M
Lupankwa. Until 1998, the groundwater resources project has published five papers in scientific journals and fourteen conference papers.
 

Assessment

The focus of the geophysical studies will be on the assessment of the groundwater potential in North Western Zimbabwe.  A research group involving staff members of the Department of Geology, UZ, the Zimbabwean Geological Survey and Lund University has initiated the investigations. The group will be expanded by bringing in several M.Sc. students at UZ and staff from the Environment and Remote Sensing Institute and the Department of Water Development, Zimbabwe. A hydrogeological component will be introduced into this study once a structural interpretation of the target area aquifers is made by the geophysical investigations.

Moving resistivity equipment the African way

The remotely sensed Landsat study has now been completed, with the award of a Ph.D to M. Lupankwa in June 2000. The Institute of Hydrology and the
University of Southampton in U.K. and the Free University of Amsterdam assisted with the supervision of the work. The outcome of the study is that a technique has
been developed for assessing evaporation using Landsat TM data, which is readily available and reasonably cheap.

The extension of the project to study the pollution of groundwater is well justified and it will strengthen the competence of UZ in environmental hydrogeology and
geochemistry. Pollution from mine dumps is a significant problem due to the large number of dumps in the region. Mine dumps from sulphide ores are a potential
source of acid mine drainage (AMD), and may also release toxic heavy metals into the environment. A cooperation in this subproject is planned between the
Departments of Geology, Physics (geophysicists) and IMR regarding especially the studies of mining sites, and with the Department of Chemistry regarding the
chemical analyses. There are 2 M.Phil postgraduate students working on the environmental problems associated with mining. In 2000, two B.Sc Honours
dissertations were submitted on aspects of mining wastes and their effect on the environment.
 

Harare city dump in old open cast mine

A one year pilot study project on the role of miombo woodland on the hydrology and hydrogeology of a small catchment has been completed. The research has now
been taken up by the Institute of Environmental Studies with funding support from DFID (UK). The project is expected to result at least one Ph.D. degree.
 

Co-operation

Apart from Unviersity of Zimbabwe and Lund University other academic institutions have been invited to participate in the research. The international co-operation
has inolved Arhus University in Denmark, the Danish Technical University and Leeds University in UK. Furthermore, the Bulawayo School of Mines and the
National Unversity of Science and Technology in Bulawayo have also been involved. The Groundwater branch of the Zimbabwe Ministry of Water Development
and the Geophysics section of the Zimbabwe Geological Survey are also research partners to the projects.
 

Sida/SAREC Research Officers

Country: Jan Olov Lundberg
Sector:  Maija Lindroos
 
 

TEM sounding at Sawmills, Western Zimbabwe
 
 

Photographs copyright Torleif Dahlin