By Chipo Gudhe

In an unfortunate turn of events, thousands of villagers residing in the Somalala area of Chief Gwesela, Zhombe find themselves grappling with a severe water crisis.

This predicament stems from the drying up of the once vital Guuriro Dam, which has succumbed to substantial siltation.

The dam, which had been a reliable source of irrigation for decades, now stands as a poignant reminder of better times long gone.

Originally established around 1963, the Guuriro Dam played a pivotal role in sustaining the agricultural processes in the region. The dam’s water supply immensely contributed to the growth of crops, ensuring a stable livelihood for the villagers and fostering agricultural development. However, the situation has drastically changed in recent years, leaving the community in distress.

One dismayed villager, Munyaradzi Bidi, expressed concerns, emphasizing the urgency for government intervention in addressing the deteriorating state of the dam. They asserted that the government should allocate necessary resources to facilitate the dredging of the Guuriro Dam. This undertaking would prove vital in reinvigorating the dam’s capacity and allowing agricultural activities, which abruptly ceased in 2016, to resume.

“Guuriro Dam was a major source of livelihood for people in Somalala and around. They used to produce crops through irrigation for sale to neighboring areas and this helped them financially. Now the dam is no longer serving its purpose as it is heavily silted. We are saying the government should chip in and help out in dredging the dam for it to retain to its fully operational,” he said.

Bidi said the water scarcity issue has significantly impacted the local population, generating a series of adverse consequences.

“Farming activities have slowed down, affecting both the income and food security of the villagers. With the current unpredicted weather rainfall is unreliable and farmers witness their efforts go in vain, silently hoping for the revival of the Guuriro Dam.

We keep on calling on the government for assistance in dredging the Guuriro Dam. They should invest in the rehabilitation of the dam so that they can restore the livelihoods of the affected villagers,” he said.

The situation in the Somalala area serves as a stark reminder of the importance of sustainable water management and the potential consequences of neglecting vital water sources.