By Ottilia Dube
The collapse of Insimbini Dam in Zimbili Village, Ward 19 of Umzingwane District, has left the local community reeling from the loss of a critical water source that supported agriculture, livestock and mining activities.
The dam, situated west of Zimbili A and B village burst in January 2025 following heavy rains, causing severe flooding downstream. The sudden release of water disrupted farming, damaged the local ecosystem, and killed aquatic life.
Livestock, which depended on the dam for water, were also affected.
Zamani Mpofu, a local villager, described the dam as a lifeline for the community.
“Insimbini Dam supported our livestock growth, which is a crucial part of our livelihood. We also used it for irrigating vegetables, and even small-scale miners relied on it for their operations,” Mpofu said.
“Now the collapse has disrupted all these activities, and finding alternative water sources is a challenge that may worsen our situation.”
Ward 19 Councillor, Pilate Sibanda, confirmed the dam was one of the largest in the area and vital to several villages, including parts of Matabeleland North.
“Insimbini was the third dam west of Zimbili A/B and a major resource for the community,” he said.
“After the collapse in January due to heavy rainfall, I immediately notified the Rural District Development Committee (RDDC). They dispatched engineers from Gwanda to assess the damage.”
Sibanda said the community remains stranded, with no immediate plan to restore the dam or secure a new water source.
Village head, Ennock Dube, added that the dam, built during the colonial era, had a manual system for releasing excess water.
“In the past, we would open the system to release water when the dam was full. It also had a spillway. But this time, people were afraid to go near it during the heavy rains,” Dube said.
“On top of that, miners were walking across the dam wall, weakening its structure.”
The village head said he reported the issue to authorities before the collapse, but by then, the dam was already full, and little could be done.
“The dam collapse shows the need for better dam maintenance, emergency planning, and support for affected rural communities when extreme weather happens,” Dube said.