News / Local
Gutu RDC resolves to cancel Riverton water permit
20 Apr 2016 at 01:35hrs | Views
Gutu Rural District Council has resolved to cancel Riverton, one of the best private schools in the province's water permit due to dwindling water levels at Matezva Dam.
Masvingo Mirror reported that there is fight for water rights between Riverton High School on one hand and villagers in Gutu's Ward 13 on the other hand. Council minutes indicate that water levels in the dam have dropped to 16%.
The villagers who are under Chief Chiwara are claiming that the dam was built to support irrigation schemes by the villagers. They alleged that Riverton is drawing water to irrigate 80 hectares of land on the school farm.
Riverton High School director Philimoni Mutangiri said he has not received any communication to that effected from Council and added that he would only comment when the local authority takes its action.
Villagers claim that there are 600 of them who are supposed to benefit from irrigation schemes drawing water from the dam. They say that at the moment there are only 49 benefitting and even these have also stopped drawing water from the dam because of the falling levels.
Gutu RDC Chief Executive Officer Alexander Mtembwa told the full council meeting that the villagers had temporarily stopped the irrigation because the level of water no longer allow them to irrigate their crops.
He said Council was going to apply to Dewure Sub catchment Council for the cancellation of Philimoni Mutangiri's water permit whom he said was using the same water source.
"We think that we should cancel Mutangiri's water permit as the water levels have dwindled," said Mtembwa.
The issue was supported by many councilors who attended the meeting, hence, they agreed to go for the cancellation of the water permit.
Chief Chiwara under whose jurisdiction the dam falls welcomed the development.
He suggested for Mutangiri to construct boreholes to support projects at the school.
"I am going to comment after my permit has been cancelled and also after I am informed because right now I do not know anything," said Mutangiri.
Jacob Rwakonda from Zinwa said that he also still has to get an official communication from council on the matte
Masvingo Mirror reported that there is fight for water rights between Riverton High School on one hand and villagers in Gutu's Ward 13 on the other hand. Council minutes indicate that water levels in the dam have dropped to 16%.
The villagers who are under Chief Chiwara are claiming that the dam was built to support irrigation schemes by the villagers. They alleged that Riverton is drawing water to irrigate 80 hectares of land on the school farm.
Riverton High School director Philimoni Mutangiri said he has not received any communication to that effected from Council and added that he would only comment when the local authority takes its action.
Villagers claim that there are 600 of them who are supposed to benefit from irrigation schemes drawing water from the dam. They say that at the moment there are only 49 benefitting and even these have also stopped drawing water from the dam because of the falling levels.
Gutu RDC Chief Executive Officer Alexander Mtembwa told the full council meeting that the villagers had temporarily stopped the irrigation because the level of water no longer allow them to irrigate their crops.
He said Council was going to apply to Dewure Sub catchment Council for the cancellation of Philimoni Mutangiri's water permit whom he said was using the same water source.
"We think that we should cancel Mutangiri's water permit as the water levels have dwindled," said Mtembwa.
The issue was supported by many councilors who attended the meeting, hence, they agreed to go for the cancellation of the water permit.
Chief Chiwara under whose jurisdiction the dam falls welcomed the development.
He suggested for Mutangiri to construct boreholes to support projects at the school.
"I am going to comment after my permit has been cancelled and also after I am informed because right now I do not know anything," said Mutangiri.
Jacob Rwakonda from Zinwa said that he also still has to get an official communication from council on the matte
Source - Masvingo Mirror
