Farmers cry foul over polluted water
IRRIGATION farmers in Kwekwe’s Sherwood Block are crying foul over the continued water pollution in Sebakwe Dam, saying the situation was affecting their produce.
Kwekwe District is where most irrigated agriculture is concentrated in the Midlands Province and most farmers pump water from Sebakwe Dam and along the Sebakwe River.
In separate interviews, the farmers blamed Kwekwe City Council.
“The challenge we are having as farmers in Sherwood is that of the water we are getting. The water will be polluted and this has a bearing in the type of crop that we produce.
“We have been engaging Kwekwe City Council on the matter, but the situation has not improved,” said Mr Patrick Mnangagwa, a manager at Pricabe Farm owned by President Mnangagwa.
Mr Mnangagwa said polluted water also affects their tonnage per hactre.
“In terms of hactarage, polluted water also has a negative bearing because where we would be expecting 15 to 20 tonnes per hectare we will get between 13 and 15 tonnes because the water we are using is polluted,” he said.
Another farmer, Mr Pedzisai Garinda said mining activities in and around Kwekwe was also contributing to water pollution in Sebakwe River.
He urged the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) to make sure they enforce environmental-friendly practices.
“I think EMA is not doing its job. They should be assessing some of these companies especially mining companies and ensure that they enforce laws that protect the environment. Now, people are just discharging chemicals into the river at will. Something should be done to address this,” he said.
Last month, EMA moved in and fined Kwekwe City Council $2 000 for discharging raw sewage into Sebakwe River.
Kwekwe City Council attributed the problem then to a broken down pump, which the local authority said it has since repaired.