Umlobi ngu Simelokuhle Nyathi
Izakhamizi zeNyandeni zikhala ngokuthi kulungiswe ibholoho elisemfuleni uLumene ukuze zikwazi ukuchapha ngesikhathi sezulu.
Izakhamizi zibike ukuthi sekunzima kakhulu ukuchapha umfula ngoba ibholoho seliphansi kakhulu, okwenza kube yingozi nxa umfula ugcwele.
Omunye wezakhamizi, uMkhokheli Ncube, uthe ibhuloho seligqibelekile njalo alisasebenzi ngendlela efaneleyo.
“Indaba enkulu yibhuloho. Seligqibelekile, seliphansi kakhulu njalo alisayeneli ukuchitha amanzi ngendlela efaneleyo nxa umfula ugcwele. Okokuqala, yilo kuphela elisetshenziswa nxa umfula ugcwala, ikakhulu nxa abezempilakahle begijimisa izigulane zabo bezisa eGwanda. Okwesibili, seliyingozi ngoba alisayenelisi ukuchitha amanzi masinya, okwenza amanzi ame isikhathi eside phezu kwebhuloho,” kutsho uNcube.
UNcube uthe izakhamizi zitshona zilindile isikhathi eside zifuna ukuchapha nxa zisiyakhona ezindaweni ezehlukeneyo.
Ugcizelele wathi ezinye izakhamizi sezithatha ingozi, sezichapha umfula ugcwele ngoba bengelakho okunye abangakwenza.
“Abanye siyabe sifuna ukuya ezivandeni zethu ezingaphetsheya komfula siyafuna ukuyalungisa uthango oluthathwe ngamanzi. Ibhuloho lethu liyadinga ukwakhiwa liphakanyiswe ukuze lenelise ukuchitha amanzi masinya, khona amanzi angasami phezu kwebhuloho njalo labantwana bakwazi ukulihamba bodwa bengasengozini. Ngakho-ke sicela ukuthi sincendiswe sikhwezelwe ibhuloho lethu ukuze kunqandwe ingozi,” kutsho uNcube.
Ezinye izakhamizi ziphinde zakhalaza ngobunengi bezulu eselenze izilimo zazo zatota.
USanelisiwe Mpofu uthe, “Siyalithabela izulu sibili, kodwa sesikhala ngokutota kwezilimo. Izilimo azisanikiwanga ithuba lokutshiswa lilanga, njalo ifertiliser ayisasebenzi kahle ngenxa yobunengi bezulu.”
Izakhamizi ziphinde zakhalaza ngokuthi izulu selikhukhula izivande zabo.
“Izulu leli selilengi kakhulu, selidale ukuthi umfula uLumene ukhukhule izivande zethu. Sesiphila ngokuhlala sizama ukuyazivimba njalo,” kutsho esinye sezakhamizi.
UMelody Dube yena uthe, “Siyazikhalela izivande zethu ngoba beziluncedo empilweni yethu. Kodwa thina abanye izivande zethu ziphetsheya komfula, sekungahambeki ngoba umfula ugcwele awuchapheki. Loba ungazama ukuchapha, ibhuloho alikhanyi ukuthi liphi ngenxa yokugcwala kwamanzi, njalo amanzi ayaphuza ukuyentsha, okwenza silinde kuze kushone ilanga.”
This story was produced as part of the CITE Youth Network training program, which aims to empower young women in rural communities with digital skills, enhancing their ability to create and share community news.