NKULUMANI MLAMBO
CHIVI-As the fight against climate change gathers momentum throughout the world, Chivi North MP, Godfrey Huruva Mukungunugwa says the district will not be left behind as he has the formula to minimize the effects of the global problem at local level.
Mukungunugwa told this publication that he will employ all the mechanisms at his disposal during his term of office in order to curb the brain drain and abandonment of homesteads in the arid district due to climate change.
“We started fighting the effects of climate change in the district during my term as Chivi RDC chairman and will continue from where I left now that I am the legislator for the same area.
“With the help of Government, we will hasten the completion of irrigation projects, especially in drier areas and where possible commercialization of smallholder irrigation schemes like Chombwe Irrigation project.
“Irrigation will be the lifeblood of Chivi since we cannot rely on rain fed farming. Those schemes that had run dry or were vandalized will be resuscitated as a matter of urgency.
“Climate proofing through Pfumvudza will also be prioritized to ensure food self sufficiency in our communities.
“This climate proofing program is proving to be a game changer and we will continue to encourage villagers to continue with it especially with small grains,” said Mukungunugwa.
He also added that so, far they have managed identify 38 sites for boreholes in the Constituency, drilled 15 boreholes and repaired more than 20 so that villagers can have clean, readily available and safe water for drinking.

Chivi North has seen its population in some wards like 5 and 2 going down as families abandon homesteads for greener pastures in other provinces or migrating to South Africa for job opportunities.
The area has seen serious dam siltation due to poor farming methods and climate change effects resulting in less and less pupils attending schools like Chamasvinga and Sukwe schools.
The effects of these have been reduced staple maize harvests and switching to small grains which are not commercially viable although they guarantee food security.
Census results show population figures going down in ward 2 and 5, although the population increased in other areas in the district.
In the 2012 census there were 8 892 people in ward 2 compared to 6 061 recorded in the 2022.
In ward 5 there were 6 559 people in 2012, but the number has gone down to 4 093 according to 2022 census.
This is despite the district recording an increase in population from 166 277 in 2012 to 208 160 in 2022.
“It is clear that due mainly to climate change people are migrating from the two wards and this is also supported by the delimitation results where ward 5 was decimated,” said retired teacher, Samson Gwenda from the area.
The rainfall patterns also show a sharp decline in the amount of rains received from 1963 to 2009 in Masvingo Province and this also reflects on Chivi District where there is no rain gauge.
On average Masvingo Province receives between 200mm and 540mm per season compared to the national average of 500mm and 900mm.
According to research done by David Chikodzi from the Great Zimbabwe University, in 1960-61 season, Masvingo Province received above 200mm, 1963-64 season it got below 200mm as there was a drought.
In 1973-74 season the province received 400mm, in 1977-78 it got 393mm and in the 1982-83 season there was a serious drought and there was only 30mm of rainfall received.
In 1986-87 as the frequency of drought had increased the Province received 50mm an 1991-92 season there was drought again there were only 30mm of rains received.
In 1999-2000 season there good rains and the Province received 540mm of rainfall.
The dam water is now reserved for domestic animals and home use.
A dam in Mugwere Village in ward 2 is dry. Gudhe Dam in ward 5 is also dry, Huruva Dam left to service the vast two wards.
Mukungunugwa said he will ensure that boreholes that are not working have been attended to and roads have been improved to stop the serious brain drain and further degradation of the area.
“Slowly Chivi is turning into a desert, but we cannot fold our hands and resign to fate.
“We are going to improve the road network, desilt the dams, rehabilitate the boreholes and install boreholes where there are none so that villagers have clean water as well as water for their domestic animals,” added Mukungunugwa.
There will be grading of Mukotosi Road to Bvute turn off, Badza, Shumba, Chigwikwi, Madzivadondo, Takavarasha, Zvemapere and to Chivi Growth Point.
He is also spearheading the construction of schools in the affected wards to curb the migration of people to places with better schools and health facilities.
This has seen the beginning of construction of Shumba Secondary School, renovation of Shumba Primary by parents with assistance from the Council and Government.
The Government is also constructing a block at Batanai Secondary School and fixing of gullies between Gwamakunguwo Shopping Centre and Bvute to Vuranda Shopping Centre.
“We are drilling boreholes in five places sited so far in ward 2 like Chinhuwa, Chigume Village, Befura Primary School for the community to get clean drinking water.
“We have also completed or about to finish the rehabilitation of bridges and roads in Musavezi, Taruberekera, Murove Muzvidziwa, Muchini,” said Mukungunugwa.
Villagers have been encouraged to have their own gardens where they grow vegetable and small grains to fight hunger.
Mukungunugwa said they have faced hurdles in other areas where they wanted to sink boreholes like Gomo, Mudadisi, Madzivadondo which all ran dry quickly or did not produce anything at all.
They are also appealing for electricity for schools and solar panels for boreholes that they have sunk or are preparing to sink in order to attract teachers in the area as well as increasing the lifespan of the water points.
The road network is also poor for AGRITEX officers to move around the district to assist villagers on best farming practises.
In ward 5 they are drilling boreholes in Huruva Village, Taruvinga, Chipama, Ndluvu , Chitowa dip tank, Dasva, Dharara, Mazambani, Chidandimo dip tank, Chombwe irrigation project for Jenya schools and community.
Construction of staff houses is work in progress at Rubweruchena Secondary, but resources are not enough as there are 7 sites identified for borehole drilling which require money.
“Without development and food self sufficiency, we will be faced with the same problems year after year and before we realise it the district will be deserted.
“So, all these measures are meant to pin people down in these communities and to fight climate change through development,” concluded Mukungunugwa.
Grace Togara from ward 2 said they appreciate the authorities’ efforts to fight climate change by improving road networks to reduce siltation and gullies.
“These roads were impassable as they have been affected by rains for a long time without being repaired and we hope this will help even scotch carts to navigate the area to grinding mills and those selling their produce at the local markets,” said Togara who is from Musorowegomo Village.
Edmore Musafara, who runs a thriving garden project at Huruva Dam said without climate proofing they will go nowhere as there is serious siltation of the water body that services more than 20 villages.
“We implore the MP to up the game although we appreciate his efforts, because there is a danger that there may be no dam in the not so distant future due to climate change,” he said.