An investigation of barriers to a more sustainable management of the available water resources in a Zimbabwean catchment has been conducted. Currently (spring 1997), the water resources of Zimbabwe are managed according to the 1976 Water Act. Two types of barrier have been identified: those directly related to the Water Act and others related to the traditional perception of water resources in Zimbabwe. Barriers related to the Water Act include the existing water right system, a highly centralized system of decision making, and a non-participatory system. Other barriers are the price of water, lack of information (both water resources system data and socio-economic data), lack of drought planning, and little or no environmental concern.