Update leads:
- Drought intensifies in Mat-South
- Budget consultations marred by low turnout
- CYDT activities
Drought intensifies in Mat-South
Over the years, Matabeleland South has experienced a climate change that has negatively affected precipitation patterns leading to high levels of drought in the province. Unbearable heatwaves and dry soils have led to, to low water tables in the dams, rivers and boreholes while some of them have dried up.
The perennial low rainfalls and dry weather conditions have exposed Mat South residents to a severe drought, that has led to starvation and hunger with many families, in the pro poor communities surviving on one meal per day.
The drought that has been exacerbated by the outbreak of the Coronavirus, that saw some economic activities being grounded affected breadwinners particularly child headed families, whom most of them are the youths, who are now suffering from depression due to pressure to cater for starvation in their families.
The majority of youths, are faced with water challenges, and the lack of access to water in their communities is affecting their access to health services as the frontline workers are stalling their services to the community. This has resulted in citizens being exposed to health risks as a result of failure to access services.
Mat South youths, whose participation in solving community challenges has gained momentum lately, have expressed worry and ‘concern over the drying up of dams and lack of adequate rains.
Drying up of dams like Saint Joseph Dam in Maphisa, Matobo district has raised even more worry for the residents on the perennial water woes that they are facing.
In Gwanda North, the youths from ward 1, have taken the voluntary initiative, to assist in digging up a dam, to alleviate the water challenges that they are facing in their villages.
Most youths in the province postulate that, food aid is a matter of urgency, hence they appeal to the government to provide food nets to the affected communities.
Food distribution in Mat-South communities have of late been distributed along partisan lines and villagers appeal that, there is need for fair distributions of food as everyone is affected by the recurring drought in the region.
Meanwhile, youths have warned that it is imperative that Mat South residents practice mixed farming which will enable them to farm and be able to manage dry resistant crops.
Budget consultations meetings marred by low turnout
In the previous week, concerned youths argued that the availed budget consultation venues across Mat South were not enough to enable a majority participation.
The budget consultations were conducted this week and despite the calls by the youths to decentralize the venues, for everyone to inform the processes, most citizens from the province failed to attend the budget consultation meetings.
Youths lamented that the availed budget consultation venues were too far from their reach, as they accumulated huge transport costs. Youths from Beitbridge noted that they had to travel to Collen Bawn to attend the budget consultation. They bemoaned that transport from Beitbridge to Collen Bawn costs between R120 and R150, which most of them failed to raise.
It is extremely concerning that many youths who are the present and future leaders did not take part in budget consultations hence this means that their contributions and substantive issues towards the proposed budget were not comprehensively taken into account.
CYDT Activities
The organisation this week conducted Human rights indabas in the three districts of Mat-South, namely Insiza, Bulilima and Beitbridge. These forums were meant to give the youths an understanding of their human rights and freedoms with reference to section 20 of the constitution which speaks on youth rights. The youths had the chance to discuss and map a way forward with regards to increasing youth participation in all governmental processes, as well as exercising their rights without breaking the law.
The organisation also conducted trainings on social accountability, in uMzingwane and Maphisa. These trainings aimed at capacitating the young women with knowledge and skills on social accountability. The young women had the chance to identify their service delivery needs, in their local communities. These trainings were also tailor made to give the youths a chance, to understand on the need to attend budget consultation meetings so as to enhance gender budgeting to cater for the needs of young women.
Remember to follow these tips proposed by the WHO to prevent getting infected with COVID-19;
- clean your hands more often using alcohol based hand rub or soap and water
- Maintain social distancing
- Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth
- Contact emergency COVID-19 numbers near you, if experiencing any symptoms related to the pandemic
Social Distancing Tips
- Shop alone, do not shop in groups
- Stay/Stand two metres away from other customers (especially in mealie meal queues)
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Dial 2019 if suspecting any COVID-19 Symptoms!
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