EnviroPress Reporter

What began as a mystery in the once-thriving fields of Matezva irrigation scheme has now become a source of deep concern, as farmers connect their rotting crops and disappearing livelihoods to a dam spillage linked to the nearby Bikita Minerals.

The Matezva irrigation scheme has been a lifeline for 50 smallholder farmers who rely on water from the Matezva Dam to grow potatoes, beans, and other crops throughout the year. But something went terribly wrong.

“We had planted potatoes and beans and did not harvest anything as the plants were rotting. Even the few that we harvested were just rotting. At first, we thought it was the heatwave,” said Emma Madakadze, secretary of the scheme.

Madakadze said the farmers raised the issue with their local Agritex officer, but he, too, was puzzled. It was only later, when news broke of a chemical spillage from Bikita Minerals into the dam, that the farmers began piecing the puzzle together.

“We heard that the mine had discharged effluent into the dam. That’s when we started connecting the dots. We even heard one farmer’s sheep was affected after drinking water from the dam,” she said.

Crops fail, livelihoods crumble

For more than a decade, Matezva irrigation scheme has been a beacon of resilience in a drought-prone district. Each farmer cultivates one hectare of land, producing crops for sale at Nyika growth point and nearby markets. The income has sustained families, paid school fees, and ensured food security for dozens of households.

“Water from the dam is our lifeblood. Despite the dry conditions here, we’ve remained food secure because of our irrigation. That’s why this incident is so devastating,” said Madakadze.

Elvis Mupinga, another scheme member, said the impact was unprecedented.

“Since the scheme started in 2012, we have never experienced anything like this. Now we know it’s because the water was contaminated,” said Mupinga.

Environmental consequences multiply

The damage has not been confined to crops alone. Earlier reports indicate that the Matezva Dam also suffered a collapse in its aquatic ecosystem, with local fishermen noting a disappearance of fish following the same spillage incident.

While authorities from the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) confirmed the spillage and fined the offending mining company, Bikita Minerals, US$5 000—the highest environmental penalty allowable under current regulations—the long-term effects on the local environment and communities are only beginning to emerge.