IN the heart of Mashonaland East province, a gravel road weaves its way between Domborembudzi and Zihundi business centres, a vital link for local residents.
For Clifford Mahowa (37) from Mhembere village, this road has become a source of concern. What was once a simple route for pedestrians and motorist alike has deteriorated to a treacherous path, exacerbated by the influx of heavy haulage trucks and caterpillars extracting sand from the nearby Nyagui River.
The community stands united in its efforts to reclaim its road, but the question lingers: Will these people's voices be heard? Or will those profiting from their resources step up to support the very people who bear the brunt of their operations?
“The situation is dire,” Mahowa expressed, his voice loaded with frustration.
“We didn’t benefit from these people who came here to take river sand. They worsened the poor state of our road to an extent that a pedestrian cannot walk properly because of the dust and loose surface.”
The once bearable journey has transformed into a struggle for villagers, who now find themselves navigating a landscape plagued by too much clay and sand.
The burden of maintaining the road has fallen squarely on the shoulders of the local community. Village authorities from Zhihundi, Murenge and Shambare are using the villagers to repair the road in the name of a food-for-work programme, attempting to restore the road to its former condition after having been ravaged by overloaded trucks.
“People are being used to fix what they destroyed,” Leah Gahadzikwa (51) said.
“Yet, those who are benefiting from our river sand and the road are just enjoying the fruits of our labour without giving back anything to our community.”
As Gahadzikwa speaks, cracks in the drain pipes tell a story of overloaded burden, a testament to the heavy machinery that has taken more than it has given.
“This coming rainy season small vehicles will not be able to move steadily due to erosion,” she warns.
The villagers’ worry is not just about a damaged road, it is about the erosion of their community spirit, the sacrifice of their labour and the neglect of their
needs
With the local economy relying on the functionality of this road, the issue of its deterioration extends beyond mere inconvenience.
It hampers access to markets, education and healthcare, isolating residents and stifling their ambitions.
In a world where development often comes at a cost to local communities, the story of this dusty road serves as a poignant reminder of the need for equity and responsibility.
Headman Mhembere refused to comment on the matter.
Murewa Rural District Council ward 12 councillor, Idah Jaravaza, however, is happy with the developments saying the community is benefiting from the "desiltation" of the Nyagui River through sand extraction activities.
"Before the coming of this company, our road was in a deteriorating state but now it is improving. These guys are maintaining our road, which is now looking better than before. Some of the local residents do not appreciate, they just criticise,” Jaravaza said.
“Yes, we benefited because we now have deep pools [madziva] that will help our farmers to practice irrigation as well as our domestic animals since this year we are experiencing drought caused by El nino."
She added that the company was licensed under the Murewa Rural District Council and Environmental Management Agency to operate in Nyagui River.
“They are licensed by the Environmental Management Agency and Murewa Rural District Council to do what they are doing, but some think that is illegal and is being done under corruption.”
A villager, Rodgers Mutiwekuziva (65), said extraction of sand along the Nyagui River was a blessing for the community.
"We are happy with the extraction of sand along the river, it is improving water accessibility. Pools are left and this is what we want, it is like a desiltation process, we have ready water sources," said Mutiwekuziva.
Is sand extraction along Nyagui River a blessing?
The process of removing sediments in rivers is called dredging.
According to the Geoforn International website, dredging removes accumulated sediment from the bottom or banks of bodies of water, including rivers, lakes or streams. For instance, it can reduce the depth of the waterway. It can also lead to contamination that poses a threat to aquatic plants and wildlife. In coastal areas, sediment accumulation can cause beaches to erode.
Dredging helps in keeping the water clean, preserves the local wildlife’s ecosystems and remediates eutrophication — the excess of nutrients in the water due to runoff. By solving eutrophication, you stop the excess growth of plant life, which can cause oxygen deprivation.
Today, the Mhembere community is divided over extraction of sand along their river. To some, the construction vehicles are damaging their road making mobility a challenge for both pedestrians and motorists.
But to horticulture farmers, the process has resulted in the desiltation of the river as water pools are left triggering water accessibility for irrigation and watering animals.
