adminSukulwenkosi Dube Plumtree Correspondent
VILLAGERS in Tshitshi area, Mangwe District are in need of $130,000 to finance the rehabilitation of Mabhazhe Dam wall, which was damaged in 1996.The project chair, Violet Ndlovu, said the dam would guarantee villagers a reliable source of water for domestic use and for livestock.
“Our main source of livelihood is farming but we face difficulties during the dry season. The only source of water for our crops is rain water and our produce is determined by the amount of rains that we receive.
“If the rains stop, we stop farming but once the dam has been rehabilitated we will be able to grow crops even during the dry season using dam water,” she said.
Ndlovu said the community of Tshitshi was struggling to raise money to finance the project. Area councillor Sindisiwe Sibanda said the community needed $130,000 for the project.
“We have started clearing the dam area because it had become bushy. We have tasked every household to contribute $25 towards securing material to repair the dam and we have managed to collect $400.
“We have also engaged members of our community who are in South Africa and they have also made contributions. We hope to collect more money as time progresses and we also hope to get assistance from well-wishers,” said Clr Sibanda.
She said completion of the project would pave way for the setting up of income generating projects such as small scale irrigation.
“The dam will serve as a good water source for our animals because at the moment they walk as far as Ingwizi Dam, which is 50 kilometres away to reach water,” she said.
Clr Sibanda four other dams in the area were not in use and the fifth one is silted.
Online Reporter