CHANGING weather patterns are having a dramatic effect on the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in Nyimba district.
As an outsider, it’s easy to hear about lack of water for livestock.
It’s not the usual shortage experienced during the hot season in the months of September to November, shortly before the onset of the rains.
This year the shortage has come early.
According to the local people in Nyimba district, this is the worst crisis they are experiencing after three decades.
Since January this year, it has been hot and windy on most days in Chamwase village, about 50 kilometres north of Nyimba.
Personal stories about the drought by herders in Nyimba give one a picture on the importance of water.
The drought has affected people in the Chamilala, Chamwase, Machinkha, Kachele and Mvuwa area in Nyimba district.
In Chamwase village, dusty leaves swirl around Mabvuto Zulu, 40, and his colleagues as they sit under a fig tree.
The cattle herders are taking their cows to Lukusuzi River in search of water.
After a rest, they resume their trek with their animals to the river, a walk of more than 10 kilometres.
The Lukusuzi River is now the only communal source of water in this lowland area.
Mr Zulu says he is in talks with his family and may soon opt to migrate with the animals because the distance they cover is long.
He says the longer dry season and erratic rains are putting them under pressure.
At the same time, agriculture is expanding and increasing the demand for water for crops and livestock.
Mr Zulu blames the scarcity of water on climate change.
He says, “About six years ago, there was plenty of pasture and water in this area. But now seasons have become unpredictable, and this is disrupting how we feed our animals.’’
There is competition for water.
Other herders depend on boreholes for their livestock, but these are not enough.
Residents depend on the same source of water as well.
But not all herders are migrating. Ezekiel Chirwa, 39, commonly referred to as Zekia by his fellow herders, says migrating has been a challenge for him.
As they herd animals, the team usually has conversations around finding a solution to their water challenges.
“It looks like the changing weather patterns are here to stay. So as men, when we are in the bush, we usually strategise on what next because these walks are too much, they eat on our time with family back home,” Mr Chirwa says.
They want to have water in the vicinity.
He says, “I suggested the idea of digging water reservoirs in this area to trap water during rainy seasons to be used in dry spells to save our animals. And the idea was accepted.’’
One challenge is that these herders do not have resources to dig enough water points for their animals.
But the herders agreed to take turns digging the water points based on the number they chose.
“We will utilise the areas around our gardens especially during rainy season to dig water points and trap the water.”
According to Mr Chirwa, all the cattle herders in his village depend on Lukusuzi River for water for their animals.
He says water is an essential requirement for livestock business and has a significant impact on its welfare, productivity and profitability.
The dream of every cattle herder in the area is to have the water they need to sustain their cattle throughout the year.
“We know the levels of risk associated with water supply unreliability for both livestock and crops. We do not want to starve to death because animals are our lives,” Mr Chirwa says.
During the rainy season, Mr Chirwa says the water points are areas around their gardens which are usually water-logged, but now that the rains were not enough, their hope for the water points around their gardens has dried up.
“Here, the saying that ‘Water is life’ really means that if we are able to conserve even a little drop of water that we have, it goes a long way to securing the future for our families and livestock,” Mr Chirwa says.
Naison Sakala is a local livestock farmer in the same area.
He is optimistic the water shortage will end with the digging of water points.
He says many pastoralists lose up to five cows or more in the dry season.
“I had 86 cattle. I expected more by this February because the cows have calved. But to my dismay, the number is falling. I hope we shall not continue to lose animals to drought when the water points are finished,’’ Mr Sakala says.
Mr Sakala says the nearest water points are dry.
He says because of the daily graze by livestock, the landscape in the area has changed dramatically.
“As you approach small villages, there is nothing alive for as far as the eye can see. The little grass that is usually alive during this time of the year is gone, the water points are also dry. We only have the river now as the water source,” Mr Sakala says.
Mr Sakala moves with his son, James.
James is 10 years old, and he is smiling.
He is travelling with his father and other herders from their village.
The water crisis has forced James to abscond from school in an attempt to find water for home and for the family’s cattle.
Eastern Province is home to most of the country’s livestock.
According to the 2017 Livestock and Aquaculture Census, the province has 698,455 cattle. PUBLISHED ON MAY 5, 2019 IN THE ZAMBIA DAILY MAIL. LINK: http://www.daily-mail.co.zm/nyimba-cattle-herders-treck-for-water/
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