Ray Bande
Senior Reporter
ANOTHER catastrophe is looming over Chipinge District, where two other dams at Newcastle Farm are on the verge of collapsing, putting the lives of over 400 downstream households at risk.
The alarming situation comes hot on the heels of last Sunday’s tragedy which claimed the lives of five children from the same area.
The two dams, which supply water to Lot Eight, Lot Nine, Lot 11, and Lot 12, are situated near the ill-fated Bandama Farm Dam that breached last Sunday, resulting in the loss of the young lives.
In response to the crisis, Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries, and Rural Development Deputy Minister, Honourable Vangelis Peter Haritatos vowed to intensify efforts to ensure that farmers maintain their dams, with strict monitoring by the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA).
To avert another disaster, Honourable Haritatos has ordered the relocation of villages downstream to safe places.
“It is sad and painful to lose lives in this way. It is against this background that we are now waiting for a detailed report on the state of dams in this district. Our guys are on it. The priority is to save lives and ensure that we do not go through this again. We actually have another dam in this area, which is showing signs of weakness, and we recommended that corrective measures be taken immediately.
“We have also given strict instructions to the District Development Coordinator to ensure that villagers staying in areas that are south of the dam be removed as a matter of urgency.
“That means finding alternative land for them on higher ground. We surely cannot sit and watch as lives are lost in disasters that are avoidable. Like I said, the priority is to save lives, much as we know and understand that being moved from one area to another can be painful.
“It is also in the same context that Government will now put in place stern farm dam monitoring mechanisms through ZINWA. The maintenance of dams is every stakeholders’ responsibility. Our farmers must not shy away from ZINWA and Catchment Area personnel on this one. We are partners, hence the need to work together to ensure that our dams are safe for populations living near them,” said Honourable Haritatos.
Manyaya village head, Mr Tobias Sithole, whose area was affected by the tragedy, said: “We regard this as a natural disaster caused by the dam’s poor maintenance. The dams were built in the early 1980s, and after resettlement, maintenance fell short of standards.”
While Honourable Haritatos mentioned one of the dams, Chipinge Rural District Council Ward Eight representative, Councillor Lazarus Dhliwayo confirmed that another dam in the same area faces a similar predicament.
“Unfortunately, due to time constraints and the rains, we only managed to visit one of the weakening dams, but there is another one in the area which is also showing signs of weakness,” said Councillor Dhliwayo.
Meanwhile, Government assisted with the burial of the five children swept away by floodwater following the dam breach.
In a separate interview, Local Government and Public Works Deputy Minister, Engineer Benjamin Kabikira said: “We are here as messengers of President Mnangagwa. We managed to get an appreciation of the extent of the damages that were caused by the dam breach.
‘‘Apart from the human lives lost, we also got to see the damaged infrastructure that include bridges that were damaged and livestock that were swept away.
“In the spirit of leaving no one and no place behind, as espoused by our President, we have delivered some foodstuffs that will be used during the funerals of the deceased children.
‘‘Government will assist in funeral logistics, and ensure that the bereaved families do not shoulder the burden alone.”
