Clean water for drought-stricken villages in Africa protects wildlife

Transcript 

Simbarashe Chiseva, IFAW community development officer: Though Hwange National Park has got artificial water provision, we also need water to be available in our communities all year round, if it is possible, through the rivers, the dams, and other natural water sources. But because of drought, that is no longer possible. 

Augustine Bimbani Gomba, ZimParks senior wildlife officer: The pressures that are there as a result of climate change, because our rainfall patterns are now not like what it used to be. You know, at times we get good rains, then maybe we have two or three years of dry spells, leading to the drying of those perennial sources. Also as a result, humans and wildlife are now competing for the resources. 

Pascar Tshuma, smallholder farmer in Kasibo Village: We have been getting it difficult. We did not receive good rains this season. And the river, as I speak right now, it’s dried up, gone dry. We ended up fetching the unsafe water for consumption. It was a very big problem.  

Simbarashe: Drought is an extreme event which emerges from climate change-related challenges. So, it’s now becoming more frequent year after year. The limited or the few water resources that are available, there is high competition. So, when these two players in the landscape come together, people and wildlife, conflict is inevitable. Then we end up losing wildlife, retaliatory killing, or losing people when they are killed by wild animals. 

Charles Ncube, Chief Nekatambe, Hwange Landscape: We need water, you know, this region is so dry. Already, there are places that have got problems with water. And so, they’ve actually drilled boreholes where there’s shortage of water.  

Simbarashe: To ensure that water is available for our communities, we have a program we call Water is Life. Drilling boreholes and installing green energy, the solar pumps. We are enhancing availability and access of clean water for the villagers themselves. We are trying to also address potential human-wildlife conflicts by providing these boreholes. They used to walk into the park four or five kilometers to fetch water, which are open sources, and enhancing their vulnerability to zoonotic diseases.  

Pascar: I’m very thankful. The borehole that have right now, everyone is happy. The assistance will go a long way. Because of the water, which is right here now, our livestock will drink from there. Our livestock used to stray away. They go into a protected area over there for water. But I think as it is now, the problem is over.  

Luyando Mudenda, smallholder farmer, Breakfast Village: We are so happy about improved access to clean water. We didn’t have clean water. We used to fetch water from the rivers, drinking from the same sources as wild animals and domestic animals like dogs. The situation was not hygienic at all, lots of dirt. Now we are drinking clean water from the tap. That excites me most. 

Simbarashe: We are also setting up nutrition gardens to ensure nutritional security for our people. Nutrition is very important, especially for the young kids, who are growing. In addition to nutritional needs, they can also sell the vegetables and get extra income, which they will be able to pay fees for their kids to be able to attend schools.  

Luyando: Improved access to water has enhanced our well-being. It’s very important for me and my children. Because the garden enables us to grow vegetables. Some vegetables will be sold, which will be able to pay school fees, and some will feed the family, leading to reduction of poverty.