Malvern Mkudu

While mining and farming activities have been hailed for creating employment and bringing development to Zimbabwe, development is still being hampered by lack of access to clean and affordable water, a situation that is resulting in conflicts in some communities.

Notwithstanding economic empowerment efforts through land redistribution and the promotion of small scale mining, communities in mining and farming areas are facing stiff challenges, risks and conflicts emanating from water shortage. Among those affected are people who have been relocated to pave way for diamond mining activities at Chiadzwa in eastern Zimbabwe where livelihoods are being disrupted by a stringent water usage regime and pollution of water sources by mining and those living downstream in the Save area. firms.

In the case of Chiadzwa, diamond mining firms undertook to pay for and ensure a constant supply of water for use by relocated communities. However, the promise is not being fulfilled as the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) is demanding that communities pay for the use of water they are getting from rivers and other natural sources. Apart from the need for clean water for drinking and domestic use, the communities largely use the water for irrigating gardens and livestock raring.

With members of relocated communities failing to pay for the water, ZINWA is now barring them from using natural water sources for watering gardens. This ban is threatening the survival of these communities considering how they live in a drought prone area where gardening is a major source of livelihood. As exposed through an investigative visit by this reporter, the situation is so desperate that villagers are resorting to watering their gardens at night to avoid being detected by ZINWA officials.

‘Water has become more expensive to access. We have been forced into an urban set up where we have to pay for access of water’ said Peter Marange, an affected villager. In order for them to use community water sources for agricultural purposes, Marange and other affected peasant farmers have to pay ZINWA a monthly fee of between US$5 and $US$7.This cannot be afforded by the villagers who depend on subsistence farming for survival.

While villagers are being barred from utilising the community’s natural water sources for watering their gardens, mining companies areusing community water sources for mining purposes. This is contrary to norms and expectations in other countries such as South Africa where community water sources are protected by policies and laws requiring mining companies to declare their sources of water before being granted operating licences. In the absence of a policy framework that protects communities from unsustainable use of water by mining companies and other extractive industries, natural water sources in communities surrounding Chiadzwa have been severely affected by toxic substances being emitted from diamond mining activities and the production of ethanol by the Greenfuel company at Chisumbanje.

The pollution of natural water sources in Marange has been confirmed by the Zimbabwe Environmental Lawyers Association s (ZELA), which says that diamonds mining firms at Chiadzwa are releasing toxic affluent into the Save river and other water sources. As pointed out by ZELA, these toxic substances are pausing a serious health threat to villagers and livestock. This was confirmed by a community member, Gladys Chiadzwa who said livestock was dying from contaminated water but mining companies were not doing anything to compensate affected villagers.

ZELA blamed the pollution on big companies that have protection from powerful political figures. Shamiso Mtisi an Officer said ‘EMA’s hands are tied because of political interference in the operations of these companies’
Gladys Chiadzwa added that cattle were drowning in the muddy waters created by mining companies that release mud in the rivers.This was confirmed by a consultant environmentalist who refused to be named for professional reasons who said that none of the mining companies operating in Chiadzwa had systems in place to recycle water.

Pollution is also affecting underground water sources, worsening the problem of water scarcity for small scale farming communities in Marange, Chisumbabnje and other surrounding areas.

Communities in the sugarcane producing areas of Chiredzi and Mkwasine are also reeling under disempowering effects of inequitable water usage. Particularly pronounced during low rainfall periods,the struggle for water in this part of the lowveld pits villagers, small scale farmers and the powerful sugarcane farmers led by the Hippo Valley company under Tongaat Hulliet.

Kyle, Manjirenji and Bangala dams that supply irrigation water often get overwhelmed during periods of low rainfall, with commercial plantations owned by corporates being prioritized at the expense of smallholder and communal farmers in terms of water supply.
Commercial farming considerations often take precedence over other uses of water putting poorer farmers and villagers in direct competition with corporate entities for water.

The US $9.45 charge per one million liters of water drawn from dams operated by ZINWA in the area which places water out of reach for smaller farmers and ordinary villagers.Water is allocated to farmers who hold permits and those that do not have permits resort to using water illegally for irrigation.ZINWA permits give farmers the legal rights to use water.
Big farmers buy water in advance and in times of low rainfall and they are prioritised in allocation of water by the water authority. This has repurcations on smaller, poorer farmers during low rainfall seasons..

Communal farmers downstream and on the banks of rivers concentrating on other farming activities other than sugarcane production are particularly disadvantaged as they are often left with little or no water to sustain agricultural activity during periods of little or no rainfall.This has contributed to the creation and perpetuation of monoculture system in which sugarcane production is prioritised at the expense of food crops such as maize and sorghum. This is severely compromising the food security and livelihoods of communal farmers who desperately need irrigation to sustain agricultural activities in Zimbabwe’s drought prone lowveld.

Despite the water shortage and other challenges being presented by monoculture in the sugarcane producing lowveld, government has not intervened to protect the smaller farmers from exploitative and unfair practices of the big companies that enjoy a monopoly in the industry.
The developments in these communities are contrary to the 2010 the United Nations declaration of access to clean water as a basic human right. This means that governments must ensure that their citizens have access to clean water that is free from pollution.
Activities in these communities have put the government’s commitment to providing access to clean water for its citizens into question. Questions are being asked whether the legislation that governs water affairs is adequate to protect vulnerable communities in areas where there is exploitation of natural resources such as minerals.

A ZINWA manager speaking on condition of anonymity said big companies were using more water than allocated to them by the water authority but it was difficult to monitor. ‘The situation is worse in the lowveld because it is hot there’ said the source. The hot weather requires people to use more water for their crops and this places pressure on water demand.

With communities feeling disempowered to confront the big corporate companies about their inequitable water usage regimes, the villagers in Chiredzi and Chiadzwa now pin their hopes on government to rectify the situation. It stands to be seen if government will police the big companies more effectively to ensure communities are not denied access to clean water.
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