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Nqobile Tshili/ Michelle Moyo, Chronicle Writers

THE rains being received in most parts of Matabeleland region since last weekend have brought relief to livestock farmers as they are expected to regenerate pastures and save domestic and wild animals from hunger.

Most parts of the country last received rains in mid-January due to El Nino weather conditions, culminating in a severe drought as most farmers did not harvest anything.

President Mnangagwa has declaring the drought situation a State of Disaster with the Government mobilising US$2 billion to ensure food supplies to all people.

While the Government has been planning on how to avert the water situation, most of Matabeleland region has received significant rains, which have brought relief to communities including farmers.

According a weather advisory, the Meteorological Service Department (MSD) has said that a cloud band coupled with moisture from the south east coast of Southern Africa is expected to enhance heavy rainfall over all Matabeleland and Masvingo provinces from the 6th April to 9th of April 2024.

It said the rains will exceed more than 50mm within 24 hours in some areas. From Wednesday, the cloud band was drifting towards Mashonaland provinces and the public is warned of possible lightning, strong winds and localised hailstorms.

Farmers and communities in Matabeleland region have welcomed the rains as a huge relief. For Bulawayo, which is facing biting water shortages residents took advantage of the rains to harvest water.

National Council of Chiefs president Chief Mtshane Khumalo said the recent rains were important considering that the water table was now low.

“The rains are very important especially as we are looking at the precarious water situation in communities,” he said.

“Due to low rainfalls in the 2023/24 rainy season, the water table was now too low. We have been told that the Government is going to drill boreholes in communities and we were worried that without any rains it was going to be difficult to access water, especially in Matabeleland region. We are just hoping that we receive more rains across the country.”

Matabeleland North Agricultural Advisory and Rural Development Services (ARDAS) director, Mr Dumisani Nyoni, said the rains were a blessing to farmers.

“We are relieved as livestock farmers because our animals were now in a dire state. These past months, we received low rains, which caused pastures to deplete fast. Our animals were now walking long distances to reach water points, which were further affecting their condition,” he said.

“It’s difficult to sustain livestock with stock feed as it’s costly. Water is also essential as it can’t be replaced.”

Livestock farmers have been urged to de-stock in considering the looming drought with prominent farmer, Mr Donald Khumalo saying he had started selling some of his animals to buy stock feed.

“We hope to receive significant amounts of rain so that we don’t face another drought. Selling livestock during drought is a huge loss for farmers. We hope rains for a sustained period as they will help pastures to recover,” said Mr Khumalo.

However, Rural Infrastructural Development Agency (RIDA) Matabeleland South acting provincial director Mr Joseph Dube said the rains will not make much difference in terms of filling up water bodies. RIDA is responsible for the management of community water bodies.

“The rains have been insignificant in areas such as Gwanda, we didn’t receive any drop of water and this is the same for 90 percent of Matabeleland South,” he said.

“And from a water management point of view there were no inflows to dams, the rivers were not flowing and there local recharge of the water table. The rains just created moisture, which may be good for pastures but in essence we still need the rains.”

-@nqoitshili/- @Lo7246Lovelyn