Parched And Forgotten, Farmers Lament Zinwa’s Neglect of Vital Dams

By Shingirai Vambe/ Stephen Ephraim

The neglect of Zimbabwe’s major dams by the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) has raised serious concerns among farmers, who are worried about the impact on the country’s agricultural sector. Despite collecting revenue from farmers and receiving funds from the treasury for dam maintenance, ZINWA’s failure to properly maintain the dams has resulted in leaks and accidents, affecting irrigation systems and ultimately, crop production.

A recent incident in Chipinge highlighted the consequences of ZINWA’s neglect. The accident, which was attributed to the authority’s failure to maintain the dam, has sparked outrage among farmers and rural councils. The rural council in Chipinge has criticized ZINWA for its inability to collect sufficient revenue from large-scale farmers, who are not getting adequate returns on their investments due to the inability to irrigate their farms throughout the year.

The lack of functional irrigation systems has severe implications for Zimbabwe’s agricultural sector. Agriculture is a vital component of the country’s economy, and irrigation is essential for crop production, particularly in regions with erratic rainfall patterns. However, with dams leaking and irrigation systems in disarray, farmers are struggling to produce crops, leading to food insecurity and economic losses.

Farmers have expressed frustration with ZINWA’s management of the dams, citing the authority’s failure to prioritize maintenance and repairs. The situation is exacerbated by the fact that ZINWA collects revenue from farmers for water usage, but fails to provide adequate services in return. This has led to accusations that ZINWA is more interested in generating revenue than in ensuring the sustainability of the country’s irrigation systems.

The Chipinge incident has brought to the fore the need for urgent reforms in the management of Zimbabwe’s dams. Farmers and rural councils are calling for greater transparency and accountability in ZINWA’s operations, as well as increased investment in dam maintenance and repairs. Until these issues are addressed, the country’s agricultural sector will continue to suffer, with far-reaching consequences for food security and economic stability.

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 ZINWA.

The relocation efforts aim to prevent further disasters, as the dam’s poor maintenance has been cited as the primary cause of the breach. Manyaya village head, Mr. Tobias Sithole, emphasized that the dam’s maintenance had fallen short of standards since its construction in the 1980s.

In the aftermath of the disaster, farmers who were directly affected by the Chiwaya dam wall collapse are appealing to the government for assistance in acquiring loans to purchase essential equipment and restore their agricultural activities.

Councilor Lazarus Dhliwayo, who represents Ward 7, was among those affected, losing pump houses, electrical motors, and 400 banana plants. The total damages are estimated at $60,000 for all farmers.

“We urge the government to assist us in acquiring loans, so we can recover from this disaster and get back to our agricultural activities. We believe that with the government’s support, we can overcome this challenging situation and rebuild our farms,” he said.

Efforts to obtain a comment from ZINWA regarding their perceived failure to fulfill their responsibilities were unsuccessful, despite sending questions to Marjorie Munyonga’s mobile phone, no response was received, leaving the reasons behind ZINWA’s alleged inaction unclear.

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