20 Jun 2023

The depopulation of cattle from Zone 6b is complete following the outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease in the area last year.

North East District Council (NEDC) chairperson, Mr Kudzani Tobokwani informed councillors Monday that the Ministry of Agriculture had released a statement that the depopulation exercise had come to an end on June 13.

Mr Tobokwani said farmers were given 14 days to bring all cattle that may be remaining. “All cattle that remain unaccounted for in the contaminated zone at the end of the notice period shall be destroyed in order to enable completion of the depopulation process,” he read the release from the ministry.

Regarding the water situation in Tati East and Tati West constituencies, Mr Tobokwani said the water supply situation in the district was stable with most of the villages having their water demand met.

He noted that the water level at Ntimbale Dam was currently at 91.3 per cent, and that it was enough to supply water for 15 months without inflows.

Mr Tobokwani also said the water treatment plant at Masingwaneng was able to meet current demand although with some challenges due to aging infrastructure.

“The water supply challenge in some villages was experienced due to several pipe bursts along the transmission between Mbalambi and Moroka, thereby leading to water shortage and intermittent availability for villages beyond Moroka Pump Station,” he said.

To curb the challenge, he said there were remedial works ongoing at Mbalambi and Moroka pump stations, which was expected to be completed by end of this month.

He said completion of the project would improve the water supply situation in the district, especially in villages such as Masukwane, Tshesebe and Themashanga, where water supply was a challenge.

He told councillors that the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Lands and Water Affairs toured all infrastructure upgrading’s at Mbalambi, Moroka Pump Station and other areas that experienced water shortage.

He said the purpose of the tour was to appreciate the situation and to get feedback from the leadership in terms of water supply to various villages in the district.

He said they were impressed with progress made so far as villages such as Masukwane, Themashanga, Jackalas 1, Butale and Senyawe were receiving water from the Masingwaneng Treatment Plant.

Regarding water shortages and augmentation in some areas, Mr Tobokwani said supply through bowsing would continue while long-tern interventions were underway.

Furthermore, he said Water Utilities Corporation had embarked on identifying and equipping some boreholes in the district to augment supply, especially during times of need. ENDS