The Sunday News
Peter Matika/ Chrispen Gumunyu, Sunday News Reporters
REPAIRS on the breached Gariya Dam in Tsholotsho are nearing completion, as the District Development Fund (DDF) has been working on ensuring the dam is ready before the onset of the rainy season.
The dam, which was built in 1953 was the major water source to villages in the district.
It breached in 2017, after heavy rains that also resulted in floods that destroyed nearby villages. Repairs on the dam began in July.
In an interview, Tsholotsho North Member of Parliament Cde Sibangumuzi Khumalo said he was pleased with the effort DDF has put into restoring the dam.
“DDF took heed of the calls to repair the dam and is doing a sterling job. The dam supplied at least five villages. It had the capacity to hold 400 million cubic metres,” said Cde Khumalo.
He said the dam was also benefiting wildlife in the area
“We hope to have good rains this year so that the dam can ease human and wildlife conflict. Wildlife and livestock are now reliant on man-made water sources and this creates conflict. People now have to travel long distances to source water,” said Cde Khumalo.
He urged villagers to be actively involved in repairing and maintaining the dam.
“The community needs to be actively involved in maintaining the dam. There should be a committee that must be set up to run the affairs of the dam,” he said.
Cde Khumalo said the dam must not be used for irrigation.
“The dam should not be used for irrigation. It supplies both human and wildlife. It should therefore be maintained as just a drinking water source,” he said.
The Minister of State in Vice President Constantino Chiwenga’s Office, Dr Evelyn Ndlovu said plans have been made to rehabilitate dams around the country.
“Our plan is to rehabilitate the dams that we have which is why we have been closely looking at the various capacities of dams and land that can be irrigated by dams that are meant for irrigation.
“We encourage both Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) and DDF to continuously come up with maintenance plans so that we don’t have more silted dams,” said Dr Ndlovu.
Matabeleland North DDF provincial coordinator Mr Lawrence Ndebele said the dam would ease pressure on council boreholes.
“The pumps cannot sustain much pressure as they are meant for domestic purpose.
“Phase one of repairs should be done sometime this month, while phase two will be repairing and maintaining the canal systems,” said Mr Ndebele.
DDF provincial hydrologist Mr Tafadzwa Jangwe said phase one was running at a cost of $400 000 budget.
“We will also dig up storage pens in the dam to store water so that it does not completely dry out. We will also work on the fans release valve to ensure that a similar incident doesn’t occur,” Mr Jangwe said.
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