Upper Middle Mupfure Sub-Catchment Council (UMMSCC) is a statutory water management body in Zimbabwe established in law by the Water Act of 1998 (Chapter 20:24) section 24 and Statutory Instrument 47 of 2000, under the auspices of the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Development. The UMMSCC manages water in the Upper Middle Mupfure Sub-Catchment, a river basin delimited on the basis of hydrological boundaries. Upper Middle Mupfure Sub-Catchment Council is one of the ten Sub-Catchment Councils in Sanyati Catchment. It stretches from Mhondoro communal lands in the East of the Sanyati Catchment to Poole Dam in Chegutu.

No, Upper Middle Mupfure Sub-Catchment Council (UMMSCC) is a product of the Water Act of 1998 ,(CHAPTER 20:24) enacted by the Parliament of Zimbabwe for water use monitoring and planning.

Upper Middle Mupfure Sub-Catchment falls under sub-hydrological zone CUF3. Our catchment area covers Chegutu, Selous, Mhondoro Mubaira and portion of Norton. The major rivers found in Upper Middle Mupfure Sub-Catchment (CUF3) being Mupfure, Saruwe, Chirundazi, Nyawiye, Chimbo, Gweshe, Nyangweni, Muchenarota, Makwiro, Munyukwe, Nyundo and their tributaries.

• Processing and recommending water use applications to the
• Catchment Council
  Resolving water related conflicts
  Monitoring water use
  Promote catchment protection through monitoring and controlling all catchment degrading activities
  Carrying out research work and data collection with regard to water resources
  Education and awareness on water use

Every one using water from boreholes, wells, dams and rivers within Upper Middle Mupfure Sub-Catchment Council (UMMSCC) boundary.

Visit the offices

Ground Water

An authority to drill a borehole before drilling
Registration of water use from boreholes, wells, dams and rivers to attain a permit
Storage permits for water in reservoirs

Surface Water

Visit our offices for the initial application.

 It is a legal requirement (Water Act of 1998, CAP 20:24)
To enable equitable allocation, distribution of the finite and fully committed water resources
To ensure that you get an allocation on the limited and committed surface and ground water bodies

 You will be part of a properly managed system, hence protected from the unsactioned activities and exploitation of the water resources
Reduced water use disputes
Access to water

 Unregistered use of ground and surface water
Interfere with UMMSCC officers performing Subcatchment council duties
Tempering with dam outlets and valves without authority from the Subcatchment council
Failure to renew expired permits
Drilling boreholes or erection of a dam without authority from the Subcatchment council
Abstracting more than the permitted quantity of water by the Subcatchment council
Interfere with the flow of water of any water works or public stream without the Subcatchment council’s consent
Uneconomical use of water of a public stream or water works leading to unwarranted waste of the resource
Default on levies

Every permit holder is supposed to pay sub-catchment rates. Sub-catchment council rates are gazetted by the responsible minister through statutory instrument. Sub-catchment council rates are used for the operation of the sub-catchment council.

Any use of water except for primary purpose requires a permit. This applies to both surface and underground water.
Any water storage works greater than 5000 cubic metres (5 mega litres) for primary use requires a permit.
Any water storage works less than 5000 cubic (5 mega litres) metres require notification to the appropriate Sub-Catchment Council.
The quantity of water that may be abstracted for primary purpose is limited by the relevant Catchment Council.
The Catchment Council can specify the number of livestock a user can water for primary purpose.

“Commercial use” can be described as that use whereby an individual derives a benefit of accessing that water. Commercial use of water requires a permit. This includes:

Abstraction of surface water for any purpose other than primary use.
Storage of surface water in storage works in a public stream for any purpose other than primary use or primary purposes exceeding 5 ML.
Construction of water storage works in a public stream
Interfering with a river bed for any purpose.

“Primary use” is defined as reasonable use of water for the sustenance of life i.e. for basic household needs including drinking, bathing, watering small gardens and a few livestock.