Paul Pindani recently in Karoi

KAROI dam is under threat from stream bank cultivation and brick molding activities, being carried out by the local residents, and thereby causing massive environmental degradation.

Investigations by Mash West Times, revealed that the dam is now heavily populated by brick molders and land cultivators, who are turning a blind eye to the environmental damage, to the dam. Some brick molders who agreed to be interviewed on condition of anonymity, professed ignorance on the threat they are posing to the dam.

" I don`t have a choice because the dam is the only available source of water to mold bricks. So, I have to, do brick molding here," said one of the molders.

A female brick molder professed ignorance about the illegality of the activities that they were engaged in, despite them not having registered their operations with council.

" My son. I don`t know that it is an offence I am committing. People have been molding bricks at this dam for a very long time now,” she said.

Zimbabwe National Organization and Residents Trust, (ZNOART) Provincial Chairman, Liberty Chitiya, told Mash West Times, that Karoi dam is under threat from stream bank cultivation and brick molding, that is taking place, mainly in its tributary. Chitiya said the situation is getting worse and concerned residents have alerted the responsible authorities, to act accordingly but to no avail. 

"The problem has been made worse due to lack of clarity on who is responsible for control of the water body," said Chitiya. 

He said ZNOART is planning to have a stakeholders meeting involving residents, Karoi Town Council, Police, Angwa Rukomechi Catchment, ZINWA and EMA in order to find a way to save the water body.

" The ministry of lands, water and fisheries should clearly spell out responsibilities of communities in protecting water bodies in line with devolution of responsibilities to communities," he said.

Karoi Council Chairman, Councilor, Abel Matsika, said whatever activities taking place at the dam are not allowed. "It`s not allowed. Whatever activities they are doing there," said Matsika. He warned brick molders that their days were numbered and reiterated that council was going to deal with them, according to Council by Law`s dictates. 

" But for brick molders we are going to be very ruthless. We don`t condone activities that degrade our environment and we are not going to accept any negotiations with them because simply we will destroy the ovens," said Matsika.

He added We are going to come up with a fine on top of that. Karoi Town Council will work together with the Police and EMA so that they put enough measures to stop these illegal activities. Matsika also warned those who planted their maize near the dam.

"Council would want to warn those who planted maize, close to the dam that council has given them a reprieve, because we are just considering that their crops have matured, but next season we will not allow them to plant maize at the dam site," he said.

"We are going to put the notices to that effect around. Actually, we established a Development Control Unit (DCU), which started work recently. We want to make sure we have control, especially over issues to do with the environment," said Matsika. He added. 

"There is massive environmental degradation at the dam,where people are molding bricks. Matsika said the same unit is going to carry out inspections on properties,to verify if structures are approved or not.

“As council we have land where people can apply and be allocated a maximum of a hectare, for them to cultivate at affordable rates, but they ignore that and decide to go and cultivate on the edges of the dam,"

“So, we are just going to work flat out together with EMA, ZINWA and the Police to bring sanity.”

" Vanhu zvavari kuita hazvisi right. There is a lot of land in Karoi, and people must not go and cultivate on the banks of the dam,"

Matsika said the residents were killing the future." They may not notice it now.  So those who need land must approach council," Simbarashe Maduuro, Environmental Planning and Monitoring Officer, told Mash West Times, that as EMA, they are totally against issues of stream bank cultivation in the protection of wetlands, streams and dams.

"We use statutory instrument 7 of 2007 in the protection of the wetlands, public streams and certain pieces of land, that are subject to get protection," said Maduuro.

According to section 20 of SI 7, " No person is allowed to cultivate within 30 meters from the highest flood plain level of a stream, river bank or dam.

"So, that is the law we use as an Agency and regulatory authority.

In terms of Karoi dam, we once carried out an operation, where we were targeting some stream bank cultivation activities," said Maduuro.

Illegal activities occurring close to the dam are of grave concern, since they actually threaten the dam, through siltation and pollution of the water body."So, we will continue to monitor the activities around the dam so that we can stop the illegal activities being carried out there," he said.

EMA and ZRP,at some point carried out an operation to flush out illegal farming activities and made some arrests, but it is disheartening to see that the problem is getting worse. "We have other stakeholders such as ZINWA and also the Angwa Rukomechi sub catchment Council.

They are also responsible for monitoring the activities around the dam," said Maduuro. The EMA official promised to bring together all concerned stakeholders together and carry out a joint operation that will bring culprits to book.