By Desmond Nleya
Villagers in Bulilima District, Dombodema have parterned with a Non-Governmental Organization to fight climate change.
Having been faced with perenial water shortages for both human and animals, the villagers adopted a plan to construct a sand dam which will help store water for longer periods.
This was done through barracading a river using stones and cement.
Locals provided labour while expertise and financial assistance came from a NGO called Practical Action.
Talking to this publication, Bulilima District ward 20 councillor, Benjamin Nleya said the dam would go a long way in mitigating the effects of climate change in his ward.
” This project is good in the sense that instead of having water flowing past this area, we have barricaded it so that it slows down and in the process villagers may benefit for longer periods’.
An Agritex Extension officer who refused to be named said Sand dam helps store water downstream.
” Normally by June, villagers would have been stranded but this sand dam apart from temporarily keeping water, it also helps those down stream to dig wells since water would be still under ground”.
She added that while sand dams are a low-cost and low-maintenance water harvesting methods, they also help combat desertification by recharging groundwater and creating opportunity for sustainable land management.
The effects of climate change have over the years taken its toll on humans and animals.
The most affected being villagers from the southern part of the country who have to endure long drought spells caused by lack of rain.
Even the drought resistant crops that are normally encouraged in region 5 can’t cope with climate change.
A Practical Action official declined to comment saying they were not allowed to talk to the press.
Ban Ki-moon, the former United Nations Secretary General once said “I am convinced that climate change, and what we do about it will define us, our era and ultimately the global legacy we leave for future generations” and this is what Dombodema village in conjuction with Practical Action has started doing for future generations.
