Last week, the Meteorological Services Department projected that rains in excess of 60mm in 24 hours were expected to fall in Matabeleland South, Masvingo and Mashonaland provinces. It warned, however, that the widespread heavy rains would be accompanied by strong winds and thunderstorms, and had the potential to cause flash floods and destroy infrastructure.
Mandirasa Shonhiwa from Ward 10 in Muzvondiwa village expressed hope that the economic fortunes of the community would change with the coming rains.
“This area is very dry and, last year, there was drought and most families barely harvested adequate food to feed their families,” she said, adding that the community was very worried about food security.
She said villagers from the area feared a repeat of last year’s farming season when the few crops that had made it wilted because of the scorching heat.
Another villager, Shuvai Banda, explained the dire situation where only one borehole had to cater for more than 40 families.
Said Banda: “We are sharing water from the borehole with our livestock. Some of the livestock drinking water at this borehole are from more than 10km away.”
Banda said that 33 years after independence, her community was still battling with access to clean water.
Joice Chikoore, whose 19-year-old son died from cholera in 2012, called for a concerted effort to ensure the provision of water for citizens.
“It is government responsibility to provide citizens with safe and clean water. When you lose a child because of a preventable disease, you start appreciating the importance of clean water besides the usual basic social services,” said Chikoore.
Several men and women emphasised the need for a sound health delivery system.
“Citizens have a right to good health and this should be government’s number one priority as we approach the new year. The benefits of a healthy nation will cascade towards improving the country’s economic performance,” said Noli Zimuto.
Village head Mike Muzvondiwa said rural communities should come up with practical interventions to address their challenges and become the masters of their own destiny.
“Our community is plagued by desertification because there are no more trees. Even when the rains come, it runs off because the land is bare,” said Muzvondiwa.
He urged communities to start long-term initiatives, such as tree-planting, to avert the effects of climate change.
“Planting a tree today means that we have secured the legacy of our children. Climate change is real and it is the duty of communities to identify solutions to our own problems because government needs citizens’ support,” he said.
Post published in: News