mbulelo smpofu
Faith Ndlovu, Sunday News Reporter
VILLAGERS in Singwambizi, Ward Seven of Insiza District under Chief Mafu have expressed concern over a gaping crack in the Ndlegu Dam wall, which has caused water to spill over, heightening fears about the safety of the community and livestock.
Currently, the water that is spilling from the dam through the crack flows into a nearby river without causing immediate harm, but villagers are worried about the dangers it may pose to schoolchildren who cross the river daily to attend classes as well as their livestock that water at the dam.
They have called for action to be taken to deal with the widening crack. Insiza South Ward Seven Councillor, Matilda Dube confirmed the community’s fears and called for urgent action to address the situation.
She emphasised the dam’s critical role as the primary source of water for the community saying its collapse would spell trouble to people and livestock.
“The dam is the lifeline of our community. It provides water for our villagers, schools, clinics and livestock. If the spillage is not urgently addressed, we fear the dam might collapse, leaving us without this vital resource,” Clr Dube stated.
She noted that the dam had completely dried up before the beginning of the rainy season, a stark departure from its historically consistent water levels since its construction in the 1960s.
Fortunately, the current rainy season has replenished the dam’s water levels, but Clr Dube expressed alarm over the crack saying it has caused substantial water leakage, threatening to drain the dam even amidst the rains.
“We urgently need assistance to desilt the dam, ensuring it can hold enough water for our community’s long-term supply,” she said.
“Our greatest concern is for the safety of the schoolchildren and livestock. They risk being swept away by the overflowing water. With schools in session, children must cross the river daily to attend classes, which is a constant worry for us.”
The councillor hinted that there were ongoing discussions with the Rural District Council (RDC), which had assured that engineers would assess the situation after the rainy season.
“In the meantime, villagers have been advised to keep children away from the dam and avoid approaching the wall due to the risk of collapse,” she cautioned.
Mr Mthoniselwa Ndebele, the RDC’s engineer, clarified that no rehabilitation work has been conducted yet and only an assessment has taken place.
“Two potential repair methods have been identified and these are, reconstructing the damaged section and integrating it with the existing undamaged portion to create a watertight seal, or extending the spillway into the remaining part of the dam. The final approach will depend on further investigations into the ground conditions and underlying rock quality,” he explained.
He added, “If water accumulates in the dam or if repairs are to be undertaken during the rainy season, we will need to drain the water. However, our assessment suggests that the damage may be extensive enough that only a negligible amount of water will be retained, which means there may not be much to drain when repairs are conducted.”
The community, however, hopes for swift action to ensure their safety and preserve this vital resource.
Online Reporter