Online Reporter
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu [email protected]
REHABILITATION of Wanezi Dam in Insiza District has enhanced access to clean energy and water for domestic, commercial, and agricultural purposes.
Over 400 households from the area have benefited from two piped water schemes. The dam is also supplying two schools, Shamba Primary and Wanezi Mission High School. A seven hectare irrigation scheme has been established at the mission school.
Wanezi Dam which was a capacity of 1 700 mega litres was rehabilitated under the Climate Adaption Water and Energy Project (CAWEP). The project funded by the UK Government was implemented by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) working with Government departments.
Villagers were facing challenges in accessing water for their own consumption and livestock. Women and girls had to spend hours queuing for water at limited boreholes which would sometimes run dry. The villagers also had to drive their animals for a distance of over five kilometres in order to reach water.
UNDP engineer Louise Makurumure said rehabilitation of the dam has also improved water access at Wanezi High School and Shamba Primary School. He said under CAWEP a 30 hectare Irrigation Scheme has been established in Wanezi area and Wanezi River Bridge has been constructed.
“Rehabilitation of Wanezi Dam has improved access to water for both the community and two schools in the area namely Shamba Primary and Wanezi High School. A seven kilometer pipeline has been established which is supplying water to Shamba Primary School.
“Two community borehole piped water schemes have been established. Tsetsi B is supplying water to 150 households while Nyezi piped water scheme is supplying water to 250 households. 28 taps have been installed and this is where community members are collecting their water. This intervention has helped reduce distance walked by villagers to not more than 500 metres,” he said.
Wanezi Dam which was a major source of livelihood for farmers was damaged by Cyclone Dineo in 2016 leaving villagers in despair. It was constructed in 1952. Its rehabilitation is set to change Wanezi community into a green belt.
@DubeMatutu
