Dams lie idle in drought-prone Mberengwa

The legislator for Mberengwa South constituency Chiratidzo Iris Mabuwa has expressed concern over the under-utilisation of water bodies in the drought-prone area of Mberengwa.

"It is a tragedy that boggles the mind, with several water bodies that can irrigate more than 1000 hectares and feed the entire Mberengwa district, it is puzzling why the community here continues to grapple with the effects of the El Nino induced drought," said Mabuwa.

Children have stopped going to school, livestock succumbing to the effects of drought and the entire society is now looking up to government for food relief.

This is despite the fact that the community has two of its mega dams lying idle Manyuchi which it shares with Mwenezi and Mundi-Mataga that are always ever full.

Mabuwa lamented the underutilisation of the water bodies highlighting funding of about US$7 million is needed to unlock the dams potential.

The option has also been to encourage farmers to move away from the traditional maize farming to small grains which are drought resistant.

Mberengwa district is prone to drought and high temperatures.