Livestock, soil erosion at Bengo Dam cause massive water shortages

 Siphathisiwe Ncube

Bengo area in Gwanda District, in Matabeleland South Province is facing severe water shortages  due to soil erosion resulting in siltation of the supply dam in the area. The dam is at 75% siltation which has resulted in the dam only holding water for approximately one and half months or below. As a result, water shortages in the area have proliferated. 

This is affecting villagers who use the dam water for horticulture projects, domestic use and livestock drinking.

The dam siltation is due to soil erosion caused by livestock pathways, among other factors. Due to poor livestock control, land has been degraded as livestock pathways turn to small streams during rainy seasons, leading to soil erosion.

 Matabeleland South Provincial Water Engineer, Walter Dube said the viability of Bengo dam has been seriously crippled. The dam has been stalled to almost 25%.

“Due to the high carrying capacity of livestock in the area there has been a lot of soil erosion upstream. As the cattle move, they cause soil erosion which leads to high siltation,” said Eng. Dube. He further added that there are a lot of challenges to dam resuscitation, one of which is incapacitation.

“There is no way we can talk of resuscitation before we look at establishing silt traps on the tributary streams. As an institution we do not have a dam scooper  and that’s a great setback,” he said.

Eng. Dube said the cost for full viability of the dam is estimated at approximately US$30 000.

 “Conservative works should be constructed which cost around US$8 000 and hiring of dam scoopers and raising the dam wall is needed for the resuscitation of the dam at a cost of around US$22 000. It is sad that in our yearly budget we do not receive such amounts per project which becomes a stalled initiative from the onset, therefore we need the private sector to come on board,” added Eng. Dube.

Villagers in Bengo had no kind words for the infrastructure development organisation as their plight allegedly gets worse by the day. For Mrs Miriam Mtlokwa, her household duties have been further complicated as she needs to travel a long distance to fetch water for domestic use. “Considering the rains that we received this year, it is so sad that we have not been able to keep the water in reservoirs for future use. As a woman, I have the responsibility  to look after my household and now l have to walk long distances to fetch water.This situation affects other duties of cleaning the homestead and at farming,” said Mrs Mtlokwa. 

An official from Gwanda Rural District Council (GRDC) said the role of rehabilitating the dam is the responsibility of the DDF who are liable for the state of such infrastructure.

Matabeleland South DDF provincial coordinator Mr Moment Malandu said so far the institution has received $40 million dollars which is directed towards road rehabilitation although they await more funds to come. 

“We currently are in the process of fixing roads and we await funding for dams’ rehabilitation too. Bengo dam will be one of the beneficiaries and we hope that we will get partnerships from the private sector to implement the changes needed for the dams’ durability,” said Mr Malandu.