Villagers attempt to rescue a cow trapped in muddy pool.
Rural Communities in Matabeleland South Province have bemoaned the loss of livestock following an erratic start to the 2023/2024 rainy season. Delays in the onset of rains has resulted in significant losses of livestock which include cattle and donkeys for communities leaving in the semi-arid regions of Bulilima and Matobo Districts.
Zimbabwe is currently at the peak of the ongoing strong El Nino event which is driving below-average rainfall across much of Southern Africa.
Local communities in Matabeleland South have increased calls of despondency following the depletion of water sources and grazing plains resulting in the death of livestock. Villagers from Gohole in Matobo District have lamented the dire situation as cattle succumb to the crisis in attempt drink water from the muddy ponds that inside the local dam.
According to Feluna Ncube the Proportional Representation Councillor for Gohole in Matobo ward 20, the situation is dire and with no sight to an end as the dry conditions are worsening by the day.
“We are receiving daily reports of cattle dying from being trapped in the muddy pools of Gohole dam. As if it’s not enough some of our cattle are succumbing to starvation as grazing areas have been depleted and we are losing hope by the day”, said Feluna Ncube.
Villagers from Sigangatsha in Matobo ward 6 have also not been spared from the devastating effects of the prevailing dry weather conditions that have claimed their cattle, especially those in calf. “We are involuntarily slaughtering our cattle every day, especially the ones in calf.
“Once a cow in calf drops to the ground, chances of raising it to stand on its feet again are slim and we are left with no option but to slaughter”, said Mary Mhlanga a member of the Habakkuk Trust Community Advocacy Action Team from Matobo ward 6.
Meanwhile as a copping strategy, villagers from Madlambudzi in Bulilima ward 11 have since resorted to fetching water through abstraction to water their cattle from household water containers. “The livestock situation is critical; we have resorted to watering our livestock through filling up large dishes with water dug from the basin of the dam’’, said Silindeni Nleya, member of the Madlambudzi dam committee.
Bulilima district has not been spared from the adverse weather conditions that have since claimed hundreds of cattle, the plight of villagers has also been worsened by wildlife raids. Hyena invasions are on the rise compounding livestock losses as the animals are too weak to escape from attacks by these predators.
Villagers scoop water at a local dam.
The livestock deaths resulting from erratic and dwindling rainfall patterns come in the midst of increasing calls for climate justice from players in the environmental governance sector.
The prevailing climate change induced weather phenomena in Zimbabwe has collided with unstable economic conditions that are coupled with a weak climate governance framework much to the detriment of local communities.
Limited adaptation measures to the climate crisis is threatening to severely affect not only the household economic base but also has ripple effects on the local and national economy. Matabeleland South amasses a highly significant portion of the country’s national head, hence the need for urgent attention to the crisis.
