Tsholotsho faces serious water shortage

DURING the last rainy season, some villagers in Tsholotsho were affected by floods, with some of them forced to relocate after their homes and belongings were destroyed.

Less than a year later, some of the villagers and their livestock are facing serious water shortages. Officials in Tsholotsho said the latest predicament was worsened after the rains not only caused floods, but breached Gariya Dam which used to be a source of water to human beings and animals in the area.

The situation has been made worse by failure by the responsible authorities to repair the dam, meaning villagers might face the same fate next year. Tsholotsho District Development Association chairman Mr Charles Mazibisa said repeated pleas to the Tsholotsho Rural District Council to repair the dam have not yielded any result.

“Indeed the situation obtaining on the ground in as far as Tsholotsho district is concerned leaves a lot to be desired. We are witnessing a complete neglect of some of the essential projects by the authorities — the Tsholotsho Rural District Council,” he said.

“A case in point is the neglect of Gariya Dam which is one of the biggest man-made dams in Tsholotsho. This dam was breached during the last rainy season, a case known by the local authority but nothing has been done to repair the dam despite constant appeals by villagers.”

Mr Mazibisa said the dam was an important water source for both people and animals living in the western part of the district.

“The community from that part of the district does not know where to appeal. This dam is an important source of water even for elephants that wander from Hwange,” he said.

Contacted for comment, the councillor for the area, Clr Vimile Dube said the issue has been deliberated on but there was no money to repair the dam.

“We have met with the council regarding the repairing of the dam but it seems there is no money to repair it. At one time we had some engineers from Zimbabwe National Water Authority looking at the dam but after that we never heard from them.

“I do not know what we will do since we are now entering the rainy season, we have to come up with a plan,” said Clr Dube.