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Michelle Moyo, Bulawayo Bureau
Ongoing food security challenges in Zimbabwe have severely impacted Isikhunkwa village in Lupane, devastating local agriculture and leading to significant crop failures and livestock deaths.
Without adequate water resources, families are struggling to access basic necessities, increasingly relying on external support from relatives in urban areas or neighbouring countries like South Africa and Zambia.
Women are bearing the brunt of the crisis, often travelling long distances to fetch water, while children continue to face malnutrition and health issues due to the scarcity of food.
Women in Isikhunkwa village face the daunting task of walking long distances to access sources of water.
As sources have become increasingly distant, villagers are forced to dig deeper daily, sometimes using ladders to reach water. Unfortunately, the precarious situation has led to livestock falling into deep holes, exacerbating the crisis.
Matabeleland North Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Richard Moyo said the Government stepping in to help the people of Isikhunkwa village through food relief and borehole drilling.
Thousands of boreholes have been sunk, some have been solar-powered and equipped under the Presidential Borehole drilling Scheme. The Government is targeting to drill 35 000 boreholes in 35 000 villages across the country.
He said the situation in Isikhunkwa highlights the urgent need for targeted interventions to provide immediate relief and foster long-term resilience in vulnerable communities.
“It is troubling to learn that some communities are not benefiting from the projects that are intended to uplift rural livelihoods,” Minister Moyo said.
The Presidential Borehole drilling scheme aims to provide immediate assistance and long-term solutions for communities such as Isikhunkwa village struggling with the effects of the El Niño drought.
By focusing on enhancing water infrastructure and promoting sustainable agricultural practices, the initiative seeks to alleviate food and water shortages, support vulnerable populations, and foster resilience against future environmental challenges.
One of the villagers, Ms Rejoice Moyo, noted that due to water scarcity affecting agriculture, she has been severely impacted to the extent that she can no longer afford to pay school fees for her grandchildren or maintain her standard of living due to the drought.
“As a farmer, I once supported myself and my family, but the devastating drought has left me struggling to make ends meet. “Our community faces a severe water crisis, forcing us to travel long distances to find water.
“We’re forced to share this scarce resource with our livestock, which are tragically dying daily due to dehydration,” she said.
One of the youth from Isikhunkwa village, Sikhathazile Mugandi, wore a haunting expression of hunger on her face, a poignant testament to the devastating impact of the drought.
“Water scarcity has become a significant disturbance in our lives. We’re now forced to fetch water from wells and rivers, as our supplies are dwindling day by day. We request the Government’s assistance in establishing a youth vocational training centre, enabling us to acquire skills and engage in income-generating activities, ultimately achieving self-sufficiency,” she said.
Ms Chipo Gabadela, another villager, shared that she had been forced to seek menial jobs from affluent community members to survive.
“As a mother of four, I’m forced to explore alternative means of supporting my family.
Online Reporter