News / Regional
Silalatshani Irrigation Scheme lifeline for Insiza, Filabusi
13 Jan 2012 at 18:22hrs | Views
Water is diverted for crop production in Silalabuhwa, Zimbabwe - Schaefer 2010
INSIZA South constituency in Matabeleland South boasts of the largest and most successful irrigation scheme in the province, Silalabuhwa, which stretches over many kilometres.
The irrigation scheme is a source of income and subsistence for many families, especially those staying in the Silalatshani area.
The irrigation scheme is a source of income and subsistence for many families, especially those staying in the Silalatshani area.
Collecting water near Silalabuhwa Dam, Zimbabwe.
Source: Schaefer 2010
Crop rotation is taken seriously with crops such as maize, sugar beans and wheat being planted seasonally.
The MP for the constituency, Mr Siyabonga Malandu Ncube, of MDC, has taken significant strides in making sure that Silalabuhwa Irrigation Scheme remains on board.
"I have been farming here at Silalabuhwa since 1991 and it has made a big difference in my life," said Ms Sibongile Sibanda, who was weeding her maize field at the irrigation scheme.
Ms Sibanda said since she started farming, she had never gone hungry.
She said although it was sometimes difficult for the farmers to sell their produce, they were guaranteed of food to feed their families.
"We mainly practise subsistence farming and it really helps us when it comes to food.
As you know, this area is quite dry so this irrigation scheme is very helpful," Ms Sibanda said.
She said she had three children who completed their Ordinary Level and had started helping her with the work on her piece of land.
"My children have been to secondary school but because I could not afford to further their education, they have assumed some responsibilities on our piece of land.
"It is my hope that they get an opportunity to further their education because with the level of education they have, getting employed is not easy," said Ms Sibanda.
She said there was minimal development in the constituency but the MP had been assisting wherever he could.
"The education sector in Silalatshani has been improving over the years.
For example, we only had secondary schools and our children hardly ever proceeded to do Advanced Level but now these schools have become high schools such as Singwango High School, which was formerly a secondary school," said Ms Sibanda.
She said children in the area were excelling academically and those who could afford were training to be teachers, nurses and farmers.
Ms Sibanda said shortage of safe drinking water remained a problem in Silalatshani but efforts had been made by some non-governmental organisations to provide constituents in the area with sources of clean drinking water.
"Boreholes are being drilled here and there and the drilling of these boreholes has made a significant difference," she said.
Ms Sibanda said medical facilities were within the reach of many people and they were adequately equipped, with basic drugs available.
She said she knew Mr Ncube, whom she said visited her area regularly.
"I know Siyabonga because he comes and holds meetings regularly.
In fact, he was last here some time in October," said Ms Sibanda.
She said Mr Ncube often encouraged the electorate in the area to work hard and continue with their farming activities in order to harvest enough produce to eat as well as have surplus for sale.
Mr Godknows Dube said:
"Sasikhale kakhulu ngendaba ye fence egomboloze i irrigation scheme wasenzela (We had complained to Mr Ncube about not having a fence surrounding the irrigation scheme and the fence has since been erected).
"Abalimisi labo baphathiswa ngamabhayisikili ngoba kwakunzima ukuthi befike kwezinye indawo ngenyawo njengoba lindawo ikhule kangaka (The agriculture extension officers also received some bicycles that would be useful modes of transport to move around the irrigation scheme, which had become a difficulty since the place is so big).
"
Mr Dube said Mr Ncube promised that he would continue coming to the area to assist them.
"I hope the Silalabuhwa Irrigation Scheme continues to flourish because it has been of great benefit to us," he said.
Mr Dube, however, said farmers in the area needed tractors in order to be on time for the cropping season and get a market to sell their produce.
Also appreciative of the irrigation scheme, Mr Thembelenkosini Mathuthu from Singwango area said he had benefited from it.
Clearly, the irrigation scheme has been a big part of the lives of many people in Insiza South.
"I have been farming here all my life.
It has become my second home and it is all I know," said Mr Mathuthu.
He said he inherited the piece of land from his parents and together with his sister, have made a success out of it.
"We usually plant maize but right now we have been trying paprika for the market.
The only problem we have is that of fertilisers.
We have to go as far as Gwanda or Filabusi just to buy fertilisers," Mr Mathuthu said.
"We are always with the MP and we have told him about our problems," he added.
Mr Mathuthu said the farmers in the area needed a Grain Marketing Board (GMB) sub-depot near them because they could not afford the transport costs to and from Filabusi.
"UMP ufisa ukuthi sithuthuke ngakho uhlala engogijimayo ngendaba zethu (Our MP wants us to prosper therefore he is always making efforts to ensure this)," said Mr Mathuthu.
He said there were no pressing issues in their villages because the MP had attended to most of the priority areas.
"UMP uncedise kakhulu ezibhedlela eSingwango, Nyamine, Mpanyimo le Avoca.
Kunengi dadewethu okufunakalayo kodwa uyasizama ubaba uMalandu.
(The MP has helped improve the standards of the hospitals and clinics in Singwango, Nyamine, Mpanyimo and Avoca.
There is still a lot that needs to be done but Mr Malandu has tried hard)," said Mr Mathuthu.
Mr Mathuthu was so excited to be talking to the Chronicle news crew and was so generous such that he offered the news crew amakhomane and maize, which he was in the process of harvesting.
The GMB Filabusi Depot offers farmers seed and fertiliser on loan, which they can pay back when they harvest.
This is, however, a disadvantage to many farmers because some of them fail to reap good harvests to enable them to pay back the loans.
There are no roads to talk about in Insiza South and they get worse as one goes further into the constituency.
Mbondweni residents said due to lack of employment opportunities, the youth had resorted to illegal gold panning while others spent their days drinking beer and causing problems.
"I know that the issue of unemployment is a nationwide problem but it is really costing the lives of our youths.
"Most of them have lost direction and others believe that they can make a living out of being omakorokoza," said one concerned parent, Mr Greystone Dhlamini.
He said these unoccupied youths had become a nuisance and their parents were failing to control them.
"The MP should try and spearhead some projects such as poultry rearing and sewing to make sure that the youths always have something to do," suggested Mr Dhlamini.
He said in this way, the youth would have something to do as well as generate some money during the process.
"We are generally fine when it comes to other areas but the biggest and worrying problem has been the restless youth," said Mr Dhlamini.
In Dekezi, constituents bemoaned the lack of safe drinking water saying they had resorted to drinking water from a nearby river.
"We drink unsafe water daily and it is by the grace of God that we are still alive.
We need a tank with safe drinking water or some boreholes to be drilled in this area," said Gogo Florence Gonyola.
She said the situation had not improved since the election of the MP and constituents in the area were beginning to lose hope.
Gogo Gonyola said the lack of safe drinking water was worrying because it exposed constituents, especially children, to diseases.
Avoca Business Centre was lively on Thursday, with the entrepreneurs operating there ready to offer their services.
It was, however, disheartening to note that further into Avoca, constituents were not thriving as much.
Besides complaining about lack of infrastructural development and water shortage, constituents said they did not have enough to eat due to poor harvests.
"We can complain about other things but these do not affect us that much.
Food shortage is the pressing issue right now.
"We need some food aid and we hope that our MP can source some for us.
We have cultivated the land but even then, we still do not have anything to eat right now," said Mrs Adhere Ndlovu, close to tears.
When contacted for comment on his constituents' challenges and aspirations, Mr Ncube said he did not speak to Chronicle before hanging up his mobile phone.
"I do not talk to your paper! Thank you, good bye," he said.
Feedback - yoliswadube@fastmail.fm
Crop rotation is taken seriously with crops such as maize, sugar beans and wheat being planted seasonally.
The MP for the constituency, Mr Siyabonga Malandu Ncube, of MDC, has taken significant strides in making sure that Silalabuhwa Irrigation Scheme remains on board.
"I have been farming here at Silalabuhwa since 1991 and it has made a big difference in my life," said Ms Sibongile Sibanda, who was weeding her maize field at the irrigation scheme.
Ms Sibanda said since she started farming, she had never gone hungry.
She said although it was sometimes difficult for the farmers to sell their produce, they were guaranteed of food to feed their families.
"We mainly practise subsistence farming and it really helps us when it comes to food.
As you know, this area is quite dry so this irrigation scheme is very helpful," Ms Sibanda said.
She said she had three children who completed their Ordinary Level and had started helping her with the work on her piece of land.
"My children have been to secondary school but because I could not afford to further their education, they have assumed some responsibilities on our piece of land.
"It is my hope that they get an opportunity to further their education because with the level of education they have, getting employed is not easy," said Ms Sibanda.
She said there was minimal development in the constituency but the MP had been assisting wherever he could.
"The education sector in Silalatshani has been improving over the years.
For example, we only had secondary schools and our children hardly ever proceeded to do Advanced Level but now these schools have become high schools such as Singwango High School, which was formerly a secondary school," said Ms Sibanda.
She said children in the area were excelling academically and those who could afford were training to be teachers, nurses and farmers.
Ms Sibanda said shortage of safe drinking water remained a problem in Silalatshani but efforts had been made by some non-governmental organisations to provide constituents in the area with sources of clean drinking water.
"Boreholes are being drilled here and there and the drilling of these boreholes has made a significant difference," she said.
Ms Sibanda said medical facilities were within the reach of many people and they were adequately equipped, with basic drugs available.
She said she knew Mr Ncube, whom she said visited her area regularly.
"I know Siyabonga because he comes and holds meetings regularly.
In fact, he was last here some time in October," said Ms Sibanda.
She said Mr Ncube often encouraged the electorate in the area to work hard and continue with their farming activities in order to harvest enough produce to eat as well as have surplus for sale.
Mr Godknows Dube said:
"Sasikhale kakhulu ngendaba ye fence egomboloze i irrigation scheme wasenzela (We had complained to Mr Ncube about not having a fence surrounding the irrigation scheme and the fence has since been erected).
"Abalimisi labo baphathiswa ngamabhayisikili ngoba kwakunzima ukuthi befike kwezinye indawo ngenyawo njengoba lindawo ikhule kangaka (The agriculture extension officers also received some bicycles that would be useful modes of transport to move around the irrigation scheme, which had become a difficulty since the place is so big).
"
Mr Dube said Mr Ncube promised that he would continue coming to the area to assist them.
"I hope the Silalabuhwa Irrigation Scheme continues to flourish because it has been of great benefit to us," he said.
Mr Dube, however, said farmers in the area needed tractors in order to be on time for the cropping season and get a market to sell their produce.
Also appreciative of the irrigation scheme, Mr Thembelenkosini Mathuthu from Singwango area said he had benefited from it.
Clearly, the irrigation scheme has been a big part of the lives of many people in Insiza South.
"I have been farming here all my life.
It has become my second home and it is all I know," said Mr Mathuthu.
He said he inherited the piece of land from his parents and together with his sister, have made a success out of it.
"We usually plant maize but right now we have been trying paprika for the market.
The only problem we have is that of fertilisers.
We have to go as far as Gwanda or Filabusi just to buy fertilisers," Mr Mathuthu said.
"We are always with the MP and we have told him about our problems," he added.
Mr Mathuthu said the farmers in the area needed a Grain Marketing Board (GMB) sub-depot near them because they could not afford the transport costs to and from Filabusi.
"UMP ufisa ukuthi sithuthuke ngakho uhlala engogijimayo ngendaba zethu (Our MP wants us to prosper therefore he is always making efforts to ensure this)," said Mr Mathuthu.
He said there were no pressing issues in their villages because the MP had attended to most of the priority areas.
"UMP uncedise kakhulu ezibhedlela eSingwango, Nyamine, Mpanyimo le Avoca.
Kunengi dadewethu okufunakalayo kodwa uyasizama ubaba uMalandu.
(The MP has helped improve the standards of the hospitals and clinics in Singwango, Nyamine, Mpanyimo and Avoca.
There is still a lot that needs to be done but Mr Malandu has tried hard)," said Mr Mathuthu.
Mr Mathuthu was so excited to be talking to the Chronicle news crew and was so generous such that he offered the news crew amakhomane and maize, which he was in the process of harvesting.
The GMB Filabusi Depot offers farmers seed and fertiliser on loan, which they can pay back when they harvest.
This is, however, a disadvantage to many farmers because some of them fail to reap good harvests to enable them to pay back the loans.
There are no roads to talk about in Insiza South and they get worse as one goes further into the constituency.
Mbondweni residents said due to lack of employment opportunities, the youth had resorted to illegal gold panning while others spent their days drinking beer and causing problems.
"I know that the issue of unemployment is a nationwide problem but it is really costing the lives of our youths.
"Most of them have lost direction and others believe that they can make a living out of being omakorokoza," said one concerned parent, Mr Greystone Dhlamini.
He said these unoccupied youths had become a nuisance and their parents were failing to control them.
"The MP should try and spearhead some projects such as poultry rearing and sewing to make sure that the youths always have something to do," suggested Mr Dhlamini.
He said in this way, the youth would have something to do as well as generate some money during the process.
"We are generally fine when it comes to other areas but the biggest and worrying problem has been the restless youth," said Mr Dhlamini.
In Dekezi, constituents bemoaned the lack of safe drinking water saying they had resorted to drinking water from a nearby river.
"We drink unsafe water daily and it is by the grace of God that we are still alive.
We need a tank with safe drinking water or some boreholes to be drilled in this area," said Gogo Florence Gonyola.
She said the situation had not improved since the election of the MP and constituents in the area were beginning to lose hope.
Gogo Gonyola said the lack of safe drinking water was worrying because it exposed constituents, especially children, to diseases.
Avoca Business Centre was lively on Thursday, with the entrepreneurs operating there ready to offer their services.
It was, however, disheartening to note that further into Avoca, constituents were not thriving as much.
Besides complaining about lack of infrastructural development and water shortage, constituents said they did not have enough to eat due to poor harvests.
"We can complain about other things but these do not affect us that much.
Food shortage is the pressing issue right now.
"We need some food aid and we hope that our MP can source some for us.
We have cultivated the land but even then, we still do not have anything to eat right now," said Mrs Adhere Ndlovu, close to tears.
When contacted for comment on his constituents' challenges and aspirations, Mr Ncube said he did not speak to Chronicle before hanging up his mobile phone.
"I do not talk to your paper! Thank you, good bye," he said.
Feedback - yoliswadube@fastmail.fm
Source - chronicle
