Villagers urged to protect water infrastructure
By Martin Mashekwa
COMMUNITIES have been urged to cultivate a sense of ownership over infrastructure given to them by the government’s cooperating partners.
The call came in the wake of an on the spot check of Simwanda Dam in chief Siachitema’s area of Kalomo district by the local Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) committee members who were tasked by the district administration to assess the reported damage of the water body yesterday.
Kalomo agriculture technical service branch officer, Nalisa Nalisa observed that some works on weak points on the dam could be easily done by the local community to avert total collapse of the water body.
The inspection of the dam revealed that the embankment has been eroded because it is used as a crossing point for vehicles alongside letting trees to grow against the dam wall, thereby loosening the compatibility of the soil texture.
“Please, let us try our best to have a sense of ownership over these ventures in our areas to complement efforts made by our partners,” Nalisa told the Simwanda dam maintenance committee members.
The water body with over 250 000 cubic litres water holding capacity which was constructed by World Vision Zambia in 2007, caters for 10 surrounding villages, both dam irrigation chairperson Mola Litaba and headman Bwizu Bwalema disclosed to Zanis.
Last week, a downpour flooded the dam forcing water to overflow over the embankment leaving the community with fear of the water body bursting, prompting district commissioner, Joshua Sikanduli to send officers to assess the situation.
The local community have since been advised to sandbag fill the eroded portion of the embankment and cut down trees on its edges once water levels subside, to save the water body from total collapse.
Villagers urged to protect water infrastructure
