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Mthabisi Tshuma in Tokwana, Bulilima

WATER woes in Tokwana area in Ward 4, Bulilima district are set to ease after the comissioning of Nodzima dam on Thursday.

The dam was built by the community through funding from Amalima to serve as a water source for livestock and for cropping activities.

Amalima comprises of Non-Governmental Organisations that include the Manoff Group, Africare, Orap and Dabane Trust and is funded by USAID.

Speaking at the dam commissioning, the guest of honour, Bulilima Rural District Council (RDC) Chief Eexecutive Officer, Mr John Brown Ncube, said due to climate change, construction of dams should be of paramount importance nationwide.

“We are faced with climate change and assets such as dams help us to harness the water that we receive for domestic and livestock use. Some of the dams even support nutrition gardens. Dams in the district are threatened by siltation fuelled by land degradation and poor farming practices,” said Mr Ncube.

He said the community should ensure that the dam is protected and not vandalised as it is critical in their lives. 

“I would like to highlight that the Amalima programme will soon be leaving the district, but I am happy to note that they are leaving us with Ilima, the concept of working together which brings sustainable development,” said Mr Ncube.

Speaking at the same event, Bulilima West MP Cde Dingumuzi Phuthi hailed development partners and the community for working together in achieving a common cause.

“It is pleasing to see that Amalima as a development partner ensured that they bring unity among the community and built a dam. The unity among the community should not end here but continue so as to facilitate that the dam becomes a cash cow for the villages it feeds,” said Cde Phuthi.

Amalima Agriculture and Resilience Manager Mr Nicholas Nyathi said the dam construction was community driven as members provided labour.

Amalima handed over the dam to an Asset Management Committee (AMC) run by the community.

In an interview, AMC Chairperson Mr Agripa Mfazo Tshuma said: “We are going to fence the dam and introduce a fisheries programme and also the community will have the opportunity of having a garden per homestead.”

Ndzindzime Village Head Mr Sethi Seth Mangena said villagers especially those in need and unemployed have been given an opportunity to start small agriculture projects which will provide a steady income.@mthabisi_mthire.