Published in September 2024

The completion of a sand dam in the Zhokwe community in Zimbabwe has brought joy and satisfaction to Marko Maphosa’s life, as he shares in this story.

Marko Maphosa, a 68-year-old farmer from Gwanda district in Zimbabwe, lives with his wife and son in the village of Zhokwe. For a long time his life was troubled and uncertain due to water scarcity in his district, which had experienced recurring droughts during the previous decade. He shares that he used to travel up to 9km to fetch water for his livestock, whose lives were always at risk from dehydration and starvation.

"The dry and barren lands offered no respite, while water sources were few and widely spread." Marko tells us, "With limited access to water, our livestock suffered from dehydration, malnutrition, and even death. I had to limit the amount of water that my livestock was drinking every day, giving turns to other community members to water their livestock as well. At times my son would miss school as he had to assist me with the task."

Despite the struggles of the past, Marko proclaims that a sand dam project in his area has brought commendable change to the people in his community. In November 2022, the Dabane Trust (our partners in Zimbabwe) began the project together with the local community after they requested assistance with their situation. The villagers came together, united by a common goal of ensuring access to year-round available water. A sand dam was successfully constructed between two bordering villages, Mawane and Zhokwe, enabling nearby access to drinking water for people in both communities. Marko told us that he was delighted to participate in the construction of the sand dam, feeling great enthusiasm about how the project could help him with his challenges.

Since the sand dam has ensured access to safe and clean water year-round, Marko was pleased to say that he no longer needed to travel such long distances in search of water. He can now easily water his livestock from a nearby drinking trough as frequently as he needs.

"Water challenges have become a thing of the past in my community. My son no longer misses school. He can now fully focus on his studies and make a better life for himself."

Marko Maphosa, member of the Zhokwe community, Zimbabwe.

Marko shares that the construction of the sand dam was particularly important for female-headed households, who more often than men had to balance the long journey to collect water with household responsibilities. Now, he tells us that women can easily collect water from the nearby dam, giving them more time to spend on other parts of their lives.

The sand dam has also provided an opportunity for the community to implement better livestock care practices, such as regular health check-ups, regular dipping of livestock, and proper nutrition. Furthermore, the project has allowed the villagers to engage in additional income-generating activities like irrigation gardening, leading to increased economic stability, as well as improved food security.

Marko concludes the discussion by sharing how he is looking forward to opening a vegetable garden to improve his family’s dietary needs, as well as bring in more income to improve his livelihood.  

"I am very proud to have dedicated my time to this project. I was part of the group that established such a precious piece of infrastructure in my community. I encourage other people to be forthcoming towards development work because it gives us a better tomorrow."

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