SALAMBALA – Community members residing in the Salambala conservancy in Silumbi area of Katima Mulilo Rural constituency fear that the prevailing drought is going to worsen their current water crisis and allege that drought relief distribution in the region is unfair.
About 300 community members are fetching water from a private well belonging to one of the community members. However, they say at times the well goes dry due to high demand, and they have to wait for a few hours for the water to fill up.
“Community members came together and made contributions to construct a borehole. It got depleted because it was being used by a lot of people. We tried to rehabilitate it, but we failed. Now the entire community is depending on one borehole constructed by a community member at her own cost,” said Brian Mwezi, a resident of Silumbi.
“For 34 years since independence, there is no water in our area. The government relocated us from flood prone areas and brought us here, for cost cutting reasons. However, they relocated us to where there is water and dumped us here where there is no water. How are we going to help ourselves?” asked Mathews Sinkumbwa, another resident of Silumbi.
He added that a few individuals who have money have managed to drill private boreholes, but majority of residents don’t have access to potable water.
“If you have money in your pocket, then it is fine you can drill your own borehole at your home. Us who don’t have money depend on asking from our neighbours. If you have a disagreement with your neighbour, you will be told ‘you cannot fetch water here anymore’,” stated Sinkumbwa.
He further said they cannot even start gardening projects due to lack of water.
Another Silumbi resident, Francis Sampaya stated that they feel left out when it comes to development.
“Our councillor is letting us down; he is not pushing for development in our area. We understand that there is a water pipeline which is supposed to come, but nothing is happening. The power grid is just a few metres away but we don’t have electricity,” stated Sampaya.
While reacting to the state of the region address by Zambezi governor Lawrence Sampofu, Katima Rural councillor Matengu Simushi said water crisis is a serious problem in the region. Simushi shifted the blame to the ministry of agriculture.
“Even the rehabilitation of boreholes is taking too long. The Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform is failing us,” stated Simushi, adding that central government always takes long to release funds for projects, and community members end up blaming councillors while it is not their fault.
Sampofu advised councillors to always visit ministers and present the challenges faced by the region.
“Let us always stand up as a region, to go and see these ministers and complain about our challenges,” stated the governor.
Hunger
The residents further alleged that drought relief distribution in the region is unfair. They say in other areas, each household is given two bags of 20kg maize meal, while they are always just given one.
Sampaya further explained that when community members learnt that others always get two bags of maize meal each, they decided to boycott the last distribution. “The last time they were here, community members became angry and refused to be given one bag of maize meal each, so the officials left and proceeded to other areas,” stated Sampaya.
“From here where we are, to the next pay point at Tololi village not far from here, they go and give each household two bags of maize meal, but when they come to our pay point, they give us one bag of maize meal each. When we enquire, we are told our population is big compared to other areas, that is why we are receiving one bag each. Why is that so? I thought there is supposed to be a standard procedure from OPM,” said Sinkumbwa. When pressed further whether he was aware of the complaints, Simushi stated: “I am a councillor, I am not an administrator. It is not me who decides how many bags each person should get, there is a standard procedure from OPM.”
Contacted for comment, Office of the Prime Minister Chief PRO Rhingo Mutambo explained that the standard procedure for drought relief food distribution for each household is one bag of 20kg maize meal or mahangu, four tinned fish of 400g or 750g of soya mince or 1.5kg of frozen beef meat or 1.5kg of game and one bottle of 750ml cooking oil. “In a situation where you skipped a month, the following month you are entitled to get double of that. If you don’t get double, you have the right to complain,” stated Mutambo.