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Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, [email protected]

THE community of Switsha in Gwanda District has banded together to tackle the critical siltation of their primary dam.

The dam, which gave villagers and animals a reliable water source, has become heavily silted over time. 

By mobilising resources and utilising a combination of old-school tenacity and modern technology, the community is working to restore the dam to its former glory.

Constructed in 1956, the dam relied on consistent desilting efforts to maintain its water-holding capacity. For the past few years, however, this maintenance has been severely lacking, resulting in a continually decreasing water supply that now lasts only a few months.

Local villager, Ms Sibongile Moyo, remembers a time when the dam was a dependable resource, providing enough water to last the community through the dry season. This is no longer the case, and the situation has become precarious for both humans and livestock alike.

In response to this crisis, both current and former residents of Switsha decided to take matters into their own hands. Collaborating across the globe, they have raised funds to purchase the necessary equipment and engage in the hard task of manual labour.

“We realised that instead of waiting for external help, we had to take action. This dam is vital for our community, and reviving it will allow us to pursue agricultural projects once again,” said Ms Moyo. 

The local village head, Mr Fredrick Ncube, expressed optimism that the dam scooping would be completed before the start of the rainy season. 

He hopes the rehabilitated dam will collect enough water to support the community through the dry spell.

“We are aiming to finish the work soon so that we can capture as much water as possible this rainy season,” said Mr Ncube. 

Omphile Marupi

The community also sought assistance from Gwanda South MP and Deputy Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Dr Omphile Marupi, who is spearheading the dam rehabilitation projects, which also include the Gungwe and Buvuma dams.

Dr Marupi urged communities to utilise local resources rather than waiting for Government intervention.

He commended the community for taking charge of their development.

“I was approached by the community with the idea of mobilising resources to desilt the dam. Every homestead contributed a minimum of US$10.

“We managed to hire a caterpillar to begin desilting the dam, and more work is set to be done as contributions continue to come in,” said Dr Marupi. 

He praised the community’s initiative, aligning their efforts with President Mnangagwa’s development philosophy “ilizwe lakhiwa ngabaninilo”.

Dr Marupi highlighted how such grassroots development efforts contribute to the Vision 2030 agenda, which aims to achieve an upper-middle-income economy. 

This dam rehabilitation is critical, particularly as the Government focuses on water body development to support agricultural activities. Water is life, and with a restored dam, the community can revive horticulture projects, ensure adequate water for cattle, and pursue other domestic activities, making them more self-sufficient,” he said. 

Dr Marupi said the project will also help address the community’s water scarcity issues, which is a step towards ensuring long-term sustainability. He commended other communities that have taken similar development initiatives, urging them to continue harnessing local resources to improve their livelihoods.

“We have already lost livestock due to water shortages. With this dam, we not only secure water for our cattle but also lay the foundation for community development projects that will benefit future generations,” said Dr Marupi. — @DubeMatutu