Call for enhanced water harvesting infrastructure

MORE collaboration is required in building water harvesting infrastructure to reduce the cost of extracting underground water through borehole systems while enhancing climate adaptation and resilience, an official has said.

Speaking during the joint commemoration of Global Handwashing Day and the World Toilet Day held in Matobo District, Matabeleland South on Friday, Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (RIDA) director for coordination, Mr Joseph Dube, said water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) initiatives are possible when there is enough and easily accessible water for communities.

Known for its dry conditions, Matabeleland South faces water challenges, especially during the dry season when boreholes dry up leaving people and livestock stranded.

Given this, Mr Dube said harvesting water will help to replenish groundwater improving the accessibility of water for both domestic and agricultural purposes.

He said they have about 6 714 community boreholes in the province, and more than 786 had already dried up while 2 146 were low-yielding due to drought.

“The challenge is that we invest more on sustaining methods of extraction of water and less on sustainable methods of harvesting the same water that we need so much funding to extract,” said Mr Dube.

“Because of that, the droughts that have become recurrent in the country are showing us that we now have less water in our aquifers. We are depleting the existing aquifers because they are not rechargeable. After all, we are getting little rain.

“We propose and call on the country to increase funding for water harvesting methods so that we harvest more water.”

Mr Dube said the best way of water harvesting currently available in Zimbabwe is harnessing surface water, reducing runoff so that the water gets time to percolate into the ground and recharge groundwater levels.

Mr Dube proposed that funds being channelled towards borehole drilling can be more sustainable if channelled towards water harvesting.

Meanwhile, Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) chief executive officer, Engineer Taurai Maurukira, said the Government is undertaking major capital projects where 12 major dams are being constructed across the country.

He said the target is to finish big projects like Lake Gwayi-Tshangani and Kunzvi Dam next year with Tuli-Manyange and Dande dams targeted for completion in 2026.

This will allow for irrigation projects in communities near the dams and along the water pipeline to different cities.

Completion of the new dams will also free up Mtshabezi, Ncema, Inyankuni, and Mzingwane to supply irrigation projects in surrounding communities.

“Our number one priority is the Gwayi-Tshangani Dam, which understandably requires an investment financial outlay and we are on 70,8 percent in as far as progress is concerned,” said Eng Maurukira.

“Next year the plan is to complete the Gwayi-Tshangani Dam and then we will have 104 kilometres of the pipeline and pump stations, which will allow irrigation Vision 2030 (V-30) Accelerator programmes on the pipeline to be completed.

“Close on our priority is the Kunzvi Dam completion project, which will bring water to Harare and the surrounding communities, giving irrigation space to villages around Kunzvi Dam.”

He said each dam project will be complete with five aspects, which include irrigation, water supply, mini-hydropower generation, and fisheries. — @SikhulekelaniM1