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Takudzwa Magudu Chronicle Reporter          
VILLAGERS from Nkayi District in Matabeleland North Province have embarked on a project aimed at mitigating water problems in the area by dredging silt from Sibuyu Dam in Mathetshaneni area.
The community based project running under the “food aid programme” was initiated by World Vision and is meant to address water shortages in the area.
In an interview at Sibuyu Dam last week, Mr Joshua Bhebhe, one of the villagers, expressed optimism on the rehabilitation of the dam which is being done by World Vision in conjunction with Nkayi Rural District Council, saying it was going to address perennial water problems in the area.
“We are happy with the project undertaken by World Vision which we hope is going to end water problems in our area. We are sacrificing our time to take out all the mud so that we and our livestock can have clean water to drink and survive. We also hope that we will receive rains soon because our livestock will die of thirst if the situation continues like this,” said Mr Bhebhe.
“Villagers are scooping out all the mud in the dam in preparation for the rains.”
He said some villagers were forced to walk more than four kilometres to the nearest water source.
Another villager, Mrs Esther Ndlovu (40) praised the project saying it was going to assist them as women as they were the ones mostly affected by water shortages by walking long distances to fetch the precious liquid.
“I am confident that the project will improve our livelihoods and commend efforts being done by the local authority and World Vision,” said Mrs Ndlovu.
World Vision programmes manager for Nkayi District Mr Method Ndlovu said his organisation was partnering the local community in rehabilitating the dam to mitigate water problems.
“We are working with the local organisations which include Nkayi Rural District Council (RDC) to rehabilitate Sibuyu Dam as we hope it can go a long way to addressing water problems facing villagers,” said Mr Ndlovu.
He said besides Sibuyu Dam, World Vision would work with the local community to rehabilitate Nkayi Dam as well as surrounding dip tanks.