Muema Making Improvements Thanks to Water!

Forty-year-old Muema Manzi recalled what life was like in the Nzimba Community before his community’s sand dam was implemented last year.

“We experienced water scarcity because this area is semi-arid, and the nearby rivers are seasonal. We used to walk over five kilometers (over 3 miles) to [the] nearest waterpoint. We also lacked sufficient water for human and cattle consumption,” said Muema.

"Getting [water] was such a difficult ordeal in our community because one could even spend an entire day walking to the river [and] then back home. I would carry water on my back or use a donkey, but the journey was exhausting. I had to wake up early in the morning to go and fetch water where I could find long queues, especially during the drought period. Fetching water was the main order of the day in this community, [and] even the children would spend their holidays and leisure time fetching water," continued Muema.

Collecting water is now more accessible and more convenient for Muema and the other community members in Nzimba.

“I now spend less time looking for water because the water point is nearby and offers a steady supply of water even during the dry months. This water is very close to my home, and my goats and cattle do not have to walk several kilometers searching for water to drink. It takes less than half an hour to draw water from this established water point because it is only a few meters from my home, unlike before when I had to walk up to five kilometers to draw fresh drinking water," shared Muema.

Having ready access to water from the sand dam has made a difference for Muema, allowing him to use water for multiple projects that benefit his family.

"This water point is very close to my home, and fetching water is very easy and time-efficient. I have been practicing farming and rearing my cattle. It has also allowed us to achieve higher hygiene and sanitation standards because I get enough water to practice good hygiene practices. We also eat vegetables often because we have cultivated kales and spinach for subsistence and commercial purposes," said Muema.

"We have also been able to nurture a tree nursery and distribute the trees for planting amongst ourselves. I can now plant trees because of the sand dam’s water availability, which will change my environment in the long term," Muema shared.