GOKWE - Deep gullies formed after years of environmental mismanagement, are threatening to wipe out entire towns if left untreated, local authorities have said. Gokwe, Kwekwe and the surrounding areas are at risk of severe flooding when the rains come. Residents have expressed deep concern for their safety.We are afraid of being left homeless in the next rainy season if these gullies are not taken care of. We have, on several occasions, complained to the town council about this serious threat but no tangible measures have been taken. We strongly believe that the council is neglecting us because they are not the ones affected, said one resident.
Another resident in the same area, Marimba Munyuki, said the local authorities were ignoring their duty to maintain the gullies.
Besides the danger posed to our houses there is also a serious disaster looming on the transport and communication of the town. For example, the Nemangwe community brings their cotton to Gokwe town and if the road is taken away by these gullies it means lost business and further impoverishment of the rural communities. We wonder where the council is putting all the revenue it collects from us every month, said Munyuki.
Gokwe Acting town secretary, Tapiwa Marongwe, said they needed US$3 million for the gullies to be controlled and have since approached the government for the funds.
We need finance. We have engaged private partners like Environment Africa who have since come and assessed the gullies and expressed concern over this environmental degradation and promised to assist. We are equally worried by these gullies and trying our level best to arrest their further development, said Marongwe.
According to Gokwe residents, the problem started in 2000 when the country received excessive rains. Cyclones in the area destroyed crops and caused heavy soil erosion leading to the formation of the gullies.
Post published in: World News