In Nkayi, Dams Destroyed by Rains 15 Years Ago are Yet to be Repaired

Dams are major sources of water for households and domestic animals in rural areas. Image by ZimLive

BY VUSINDLU MAPHOSA | @The_CBNews | This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | MAY 14, 2021

For 15 years a village community in Nkayi has been surviving without a water source nearby. Hope has been raised by recent efforts to prioritise a dam critical to the community.

NKAYI (The Citizen Bulletin) — Ward 12 villagers at Nkayi in Matabeleland North are facing serious water challenges after two local dams Makwateni and Zeblon, major sources of water for households and domestic animals, which were destroyed by the rains 15 years ago remain unrepaired to date.

During this time the villagers and their livestock walk very long distances to the water sources to fetch water.

Indications are that authorities have not been committed to rehabilitating the water sources, resulting in a prolonged struggle for the villagers and their domestic animals.

Villagers are appealing for authorities such as the Nkayi Rural District Council and non-governmental sector to intervene and revive the dams to save human and domestic animals lives.

“We are currently having serious challenges in getting water even though the rains have this time blessed us but we have no water sources close to us after the two dams we relied on were swept away by heavy rains. We now have to walk for around five to ten kilometres to the next water source,” says a villager Sipho Ndlovu.

Nkayi’s ward 12 Councillor Elvis Nkomo confirms the water challenges in his ward and says this affects all other activities that villagers should be conducting for their livelihoods such as vegetable gardening and other projects that need water.

“In my ward, there is a shortage of dam projects. Most of the dams that are there need scooping as they have incurred massive siltation. Some of our major dams were destroyed by rains and we lack funding to rehabilitate them.”
Elvis Nkomo, ward 12 Councillor

Zeblon dam is located at Mazambane village in ward 12 while Makwateni dam is located at Gamulani village in Makwateni area.

“The two dams are no longer holding water, the rainwater just passes through them and our cattle no longer have water sources to drink from except small dams which do not last throughout the winter season as they dry up before the next rains come,” Nkomo says.

The village community does not have boreholes as a result of a coal bed in the ground. Image by DNL Partners

Nkomo says the locals are also reluctant to make efforts to rehabilitate the dams as they are now caught in the donor syndrome in which they expect NGOs to come to their rescue without making efforts of their own.

“People here have a donor syndrome because when we tell them to make efforts to rehabilitate the dams, they start talking about the need for the government being responsible for the work and forget that they are also part of the government,” Nkomo says.

Nkomo is not sure of how much is needed to rehabilitate the two dams but says he has since raised the issue at the council meeting and the council has considered the rehabilitation of the dams.

“I have raised the issue of the two dams with the council and they have since promised to send engineers to assess the dams to know what is needed and the costs expected for the projects so that an action is taken soon.”
Elvis Nkomo, ward 12 Councillor

Nkayi Council Chairperson Jameson Mnethwa says there is action being taken on Makwateni dam because the dam serves quite a large population due to lack of boreholes in the area as a result of coal bed in the ground.

ALSO READ: Good Rains Save Livestock But Unpredictable Weather Patterns Remains A Threat

“Action is being taken at Makwateni dam soon and in fact, there are five dams which need attention but Makwateni is the priority. These dams were pending when we did budget and Makwateni has larger coverage and since there are no boreholes in the area people have to go to Tshangane to fetch water.”

According to Mnethwa, when they tried to drill boreholes they would find coal. He says an assessment of the dam has been made and soon something will be done.

Do you have a hyperlocal story to share?

WhatsApp us on: +263 71 863 6460.  Email us on: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.