RAINS OF HOPE- Siqala ngamanzi

Water was becoming scarce in late October and November because of the low rainfall. Although people had other means of getting access to water, thanks to the sand abstraction pumps introduced by Dabane, it was not nearly enough. Areas such as Gwanda and Beitbridge known for their high temperatures were in dire need of a miracle, as the water table became lower their needs for water were becoming higher. A high yielding dam in Gwanda called Dambashoko was running low on water and the area in which it covered was now covered with cracks. The water was muddy and unsuitable for drinking.
 Animals could be seen standing in the distance not attempting to go near the water although evident that they were thirsty. The herd men who were observing us with curious eyes, moved closer to tell us that it was not really safe for them to bring their livestock to drink in the river. They revealed that on a daily occasion they find some cows or even donkeys stuck in the mud and weak from struggling to get out, that eventually they have to kill them. Sometimes they even find them dead.



the once highyielding dam..(Dambashoko dam in Gwanda)

 

The situation is critical in rural Matabeleland South, the residents have resorted to traditional sources of water such as shallow wells and water rationing, whereby the boreholes are disconnected till a certain time and each family is allowed to draw only 40litres of water a day.

We are however hopeful that with the heavy rain we have been recieving in Zimbabwe, that there will be an improvement in the water situation in Mat South.

To date, these are the local dam levels according to how full they are:

Dam                              Purpose                                 % full
Beitbridge 1                 Water supply                            75.1%
Mtshabezi                    Water supply/ Irrigation            101.2%
Insiza                           Water supply/ Irrigation               87.6%
Khami                           Irrigation                                   93.5%