News / National
Gwanda community raise alarm over water
26 Jul 2017 at 14:36hrs | Views
COMMUNITIES in gwanda here have raised alarm over lack of action by authorities in addressing the water crisis after five dams burst and emptied following heavy rains in the last season.
The dams - Gungwe, Matanangombe, Nkanini-Mandihongola, Mapate, Makokwe and Malipulihula - were the main source of drinking water for the communities, which are now stranded.
The crisis has largely affected livestock in the arid region.
Farmers in the district, who spoke to the Southern News this week, said there was need for urgent intervention by government.
"We are in a catch 22 situation...we don't even know what to ask for and from who, because the challenge we are facing is a natural disaster and our livestock are in danger," Sidumo Magagula of Ward 12 said.
Gwanda Rural District Council chairperson, Johnson Mangwangwa, described the situation as dire.
"The situation is bad and the major crisis is on our livestock," he said.
"While as human beings we also face a similar crisis, it cannot be compared to that of our livestock, which drank from the water bodies. We humans have an option of drinking from small water bodies or even from boreholes but what about thousands of our livestock," Mangwangwa said.
He said communities in Wards 12 and 16, which house the five dams that were destroyed, were the worst affected.
"Unfortunately, we wish the community could do anything to rebuild these dams but it's impossible, we are talking of dams not wells. So, now it's the government that should intervene," Mangwangwa said, adding that "unfortunately, nothing has happened so far in as far as giving any attention to all these dams which were razed by the floods".
Chief Mathe also concurred with the district chair, saying the issue needed urgent attention.
"People are in a serious danger of losing their livestock due to lack of water to drink. I am very confident that in three months' time, we will be hearing stories of cattle in particular dying as a result," Mathe said.
"I have spoken to our Member of Parliament, Abedinico Ncube, and he has just promised me that he will look into the issue, but nothing has materialised so far. We urgently need government intervention in this regard," he appealed.
Efforts to get a comment from Ncube were fruitless as he was not answering his mobile.
The dams - Gungwe, Matanangombe, Nkanini-Mandihongola, Mapate, Makokwe and Malipulihula - were the main source of drinking water for the communities, which are now stranded.
The crisis has largely affected livestock in the arid region.
Farmers in the district, who spoke to the Southern News this week, said there was need for urgent intervention by government.
"We are in a catch 22 situation...we don't even know what to ask for and from who, because the challenge we are facing is a natural disaster and our livestock are in danger," Sidumo Magagula of Ward 12 said.
Gwanda Rural District Council chairperson, Johnson Mangwangwa, described the situation as dire.
"The situation is bad and the major crisis is on our livestock," he said.
He said communities in Wards 12 and 16, which house the five dams that were destroyed, were the worst affected.
"Unfortunately, we wish the community could do anything to rebuild these dams but it's impossible, we are talking of dams not wells. So, now it's the government that should intervene," Mangwangwa said, adding that "unfortunately, nothing has happened so far in as far as giving any attention to all these dams which were razed by the floods".
Chief Mathe also concurred with the district chair, saying the issue needed urgent attention.
"People are in a serious danger of losing their livestock due to lack of water to drink. I am very confident that in three months' time, we will be hearing stories of cattle in particular dying as a result," Mathe said.
"I have spoken to our Member of Parliament, Abedinico Ncube, and he has just promised me that he will look into the issue, but nothing has materialised so far. We urgently need government intervention in this regard," he appealed.
Efforts to get a comment from Ncube were fruitless as he was not answering his mobile.
Source - dailynews
