Sharleen Mohammed 

Not so long ago, women and girls in Insiza District woke up before dawn to begin the long walk in search of water a task that was not only exhausting but often dangerous. With each bucket carried home, dreams of farming, learning, or resting faded under the sun. Fields stayed dry. Children skipped school. And many families survived on chance, not planning.

But that story is changing.

Today, the government, working together with the United Nations Development Programe (UNDP), has turned Wanezi Dam into more than just a water source  it’s now a heartbeat of rural life and a symbol of what’s possible when development speaks directly to community needs.

Speaking during a recent tour of the site, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Professor Obert Jiri said: "The project as a practical example of how water can drive rural transformation."

 He added: "The Climate Adaptation for Water and Energy Programe (CAWEP) has given life to the dam  now serving over 12,000 people, supplying water for homes, irrigation, and fish farming."

 Professor Jiri explained: "At the centre of this effort is a 30-hectare center-pivot irrigation scheme supporting 74 households, mostly women and youths." 

Crops like sugar beans, chilli, and Michigan pea are now thriving where dust once ruled. A piped water scheme brings clean water straight to homes. 10,000 fingerlings stocked earlier this year are already maturing, building a new layer of food security and income.

 “For the first time, I don’t spend my entire morning looking for water,” says MaNdlovu, a mother of three. “Now I use that time in the field and my daughters can stay in school.”