KWALE DAM ALMOST BURIED DUE TO SOIL EROSION

By Lonjezo Jamu

Sediments burying Kwale dam due to soil erosion

The ceaseless cutting down of trees by people surrounding Soche hill has greatly contributed to soil erosion which has resulted to silting of Kwale dam.

Chances of soil erosion are always high in places where land is bare, since there is no any  vegetation to reduce speed of running water hence top soil easily get carried away and perhaps leading to soil erosion.

Soche hill is such one of the places where soil erosion is taking place and resulting to deposition of sediments into Kwale dam, basically this is the case due to some human activities like deforestation.

Herbert Chikoti has lamented that because of deforestation soil is being eroded and deposited into Kwale dam and this dam also happen to be one of the sources of water to people surrounding Soche Hill.

“Since trees have been cut down so when running water is flowing it washes away top soil since the land is bare and there is no any tree to reduce speed and gradually the soil get eroded and being deposited into Kwale dam which is very worrisome considering the fact that people use this dam to access water for domestic use," said Chikoti.

Tree roots sprouted out due to soil erosion

Despite the fact that kwale dam has been silted but still people are still using water from kwale for domestic purpose a thing which might lead to waterborne diseases since the water is not safe for the health of people.

Kondwani Biliati from Sochi has expressed his worry that the situation has left many people desperate and they are living in fear of contracting waterborne diseases since the water which they are using is unsafe.

“Despite that the dam has been silted but we are still using it since we do not have any other place to access water in this area as you can see that nowadays we are experiencing water problems and we are forced to be using this dam as our source of water but on the other hand we are afraid because the water we are using is not safe,” said Biliati.

Meanwhile, there is high increase in the amount of soil being lost per hector per year a development which is very worrisome since the situation is affecting agricultural activities in the country as famers are failing to produce crops abundantly.

Taulayi Mulewa Programs manager for the Shire Valley Agricultural Division has bemoaned on increase in the amount of soil being eroded annually.

“According to the department of land resources there is an increase in the amount of soil being eroded, currently thirty tonnes per hector per year is being eroded,” said Mulewa.  

Addressing the issue of soil erosion Taulayi Mulewa Programs manager for the Shire Valley Agricultural Division has highlighted on some of the initiative which their department is employing.

“Actually we are planning to plant 8 million trees in this national tree planting season along river banks and hilly areas. The division has launched a project with a theme promoting soil and water conservation technologies which is key to sustainable food income and nutrition,” said Kaulayi.

Land left degraded due to soil erosion

Communities should take it upon themselves by planting more trees and practice conservation agriculture in their respective settings in order to address the issue of soil erosion, since soil erosion contribute to infertility of the land and this can definitely lead to lower crop harvesting and going against the notion that agriculture  is the back bone of Malawi.