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Lake Chivero

Coordinates: 17°54′01″S 30°47′28″E / 17.90028°S 30.79111°E / -17.90028; 30.79111
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Lake Chivero
Coordinates17°54′01″S 30°47′28″E / 17.90028°S 30.79111°E / -17.90028; 30.79111
Typereservoir
Primary inflowsManyame River, Marimba River, Mukuvisi River
Primary outflowsManyame River
Basin countriesZimbabwe
Max. width8 km (max)
Surface area2632 ha
Max. depth27 m
Water volume250 x106 m3
Shore length148 km
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Lake Chivero is a reservoir on the Manyame River. It was formerly called Lake McIlwaine in memory of Sir Robert Mcllwaine, a former judge of the High Court and founder of Zimbabwe's soil and water conservation movement

This water body is Harare's (the capital city of Zimbabwe) main water supply.) is a lake southwest of Harare, Zimbabwe. The lake was constructed over two-and-a-half years and opened to the public in 1952. The dam wall is 400 metres long.

This lake is the main source of drinking water for the people of Harare. The water is also used for irrigation purposes and commercial fishing.

Some of the fishes that are found in the lake are Common Grass Carp, Tiger fish, Black bream, Clarius Garicpnus, Yellow fish, Green headed bream and it is regarded as one of the most important lakes in Zimbabwe.

The lake and hinterland are protected as Lake Chivero Recreational Park. The lake was designated a Ramsar wetland of international importance on 3 January 2013.[1]


  1. ^ "The Annotated Ramsar List: Zimbabwe". The Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. Retrieved 20 February 2013.