By Ndumiso Tshuma
Villagers in Mbembesi, Ntabazinduna, are grappling with severe hardships following last year’s devastating drought, which wiped out most of their cattle herds.
For many families, the loss of livestock has meant the collapse of their primary source of income, forcing them to turn to small-scale mining to make ends meet.
But the work is grueling, and older residents are struggling to cope with the physical demands.
Speaking to CITE, local cattle farmer Ishmael Dlamini said his herd had been decimated by the drought.
“I used to have 50 cows, but now I’m left with only 10,” he said. “The drought was terrible last year. There was no grass and no water for the cattle. Many died. Now there is no money for food or school fees. We are trying to survive by working in the mines.”
Another villager, Nqabutho Sibanda, said nearly every household in the area had suffered losses, with some families losing their entire herds.
“In the past, I had 10 cows, they’re all gone now,” Sibanda explained. “We depended on them for milk, meat, and income from sales. Now we’re forced into mining, but it’s hard labour, and some of us are too old to dig all day. It’s painful because we don’t know what else to do.”
Thamsanqa Ndlovu added that younger people from the village now spend most of their days searching for gold in nearby bushland, while older residents are left behind, unable to endure the strenuous work.
“This drought has left us with nothing. The cattle were everything to us. Now the only option is mining, but I am over 60 years old. I can’t dig like the young boys. We are suffering. We need help to survive,” Ndlovu said.
He urged the government and aid organisations to intervene with support such as food assistance, water supplies, and small-scale farming inputs to help the community recover.
“We are a strong community, but this drought has really broken us. If help comes, we can rebuild. But if not, life will only get harder,” he warned.
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