Develop Silibinda weir into proper dam

EDITOR — As the Government steps up introduction of Command Agriculture throughout the country, villagers in the Nemananga Ward in Jambezi, Hwange, are eagerly waiting for the recent promise to develop the seasonal Silibinda water weir into a fully fledged dam.

The weir collects water during summer and it has the capacity to hold water up to the beginning of winter. We believe that if the water source is deepened and proper dam walls are erected villagers and livestocks will be greatly saved from drought.

Once the weir is developed into a dam, we foresee massive agricultural activities in this part of the country owing to ease of irrigation.

Irrigation schemes created by the proposed dam will help boost food security in the area if not throughout the entire nation.

Last year, concerned Nemanaga Ward villagers teamed up and made efforts to deepen the weir using picks and shovels in a bid to conserve water for their livestocks, but their efforts were hampered by the difficult to dig clay soils which form the base of the weir.

The weir covers an estimated diameter of seven hundred metres and is bounded by steep slopes forming the ridge to Lukunguni vlei nearby.

It would be better to relocate villagers closer to weir to pave way for the dam. Local authorities, do something soon about this as we also want to enjoy the benefits of command agriculture and hence improve food security. Victor “The Broken Gasket “Sibanda, Victoria Falls.