VILLAGERS in Matobo have breathed a sigh of relief following the construction of two sand dams along Mbabule River.
According to the Matobo Community newsletter report by Matobo Youth Development Initiative, ward 23 villagers were facing acute water shortages before the construction of the dams.
Area councillor Paul Ncube said the construction of the two sand dams by Dabane Trust would benefit both villagers and livestock.
“We are always engaging the government and partners to assist because there are no reliable sources of water for us and our livestock, so we are very grateful for this project,” Ncube said.
The report stated that communities in semi-arid regions have seen an increase in famines, droughts and water shortages as a result of climate change-related increases in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events.
In the report, a Dabane Trust official noted that they did an assessment of underground water and found that the area has impermeable rocks hence opting to construct sand dams instead of drilling boreholes.
“When we realised that we cannot drill a borehole in the area, we opted to do sand dams, which can trap water from the surface which can help to alleviate water challenges,” read the report.
According to the Famine Early Warning Systems Network report, the 2023/24 rainfall season has been affected by the El Nino event which will further reduce the amount of rainfall received in southern Africa.
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Matobo Rural District Council suggested that a 6km pipeline from the nearest sand dam constructed by Dabane Trust can bring a long lasting solution for Polimagama Primary School and nearby homesteads.
According to Dabane Trust, the sand dams need about four years for them to be able to reliably trap water.
A sand dam is a reinforced cement wall built across a seasonal sandy river.
