The ManicaPost
Lovemore Kadzura Rusape Correspondent
THE Macheke Sub-Catchment Council has embarked on massive desiltation programme on a number of rivers and dams under its management in a move aimed at improving water levels.
Macheke Sub-Catchment manages rivers, dams and other water sources stretching from Marondera to Makoni District and work has begun in Nyazura, Macheke, Headlands and Rusape rivers.
The council has also launched awareness campaigns to educate water users on its roles and functions. This was necessitated after the realisation that the sub-catchment employees were having difficulties and challenges in executing their legal mandate as most people especially resettled farmers were not aware of its functions and roles.
Macheke Sub-Catchment head, Engineer Matthias Tapfuma, said the desiltation exercise would be a timely boost to farmers as they would have enough water for irrigation purposes and added that the major cause of siltation was stream bank cultivation.
“As Macheke Sub-Catchment after realising that a number of rivers and dams are under threat from effects of stream bank cultivation and other poor farming methods we identified the critically affected ones and work has begun to rectify the siltation.
“We are currently working on dams and rivers in Makoni and Macheke areas. The removal of sand and other alien materials in rivers and dams will ultimately lead to improved water holding capacity. So farmers, both commercial and subsistence, must avoid stream bank cultivation as the effects will affect no-one, but themselves. We are also removing all gardens that are within 30 metres from stream banks.
“A lot of people are not aware of the functions and roles of sub-catchments and we started awareness campaigns where we are engaging all water consumers. The process is being led by our chairperson, Mrs Sheba Mashingaidze and in the areas we have covered now, the responce is very encouraging.
“We have been facing challenges with farmers and communities who were not allowing us to operate smoothly. Sometimes we will be denied access to dams. We visit dams to repair, maintain, and measure levels and usage of water. We are also mandated by an Act of Parliament that we must levy all water users a nominal fee that users can afford and must pay,” said Eng Tapfuma.
Sub-catchments falls under Water Act, Chapter 20.24 and their function includes regulating and supervising the issuance of water permits, monitor water flows, collects rates and fees among other statutory responsibilities.
