Trouble on the Munyeke River

The Munyeke River is a small strip of water that runs through the area of Mapanza in Choma District, Southern Province.  During the dry season the river isn't much at all - maybe a couple of meters wide (even at its widest part).  However, during the rainy season (end of November to early March) the river evolves into something very different - some kind of Bunyip (look that up!) or Levithan – that causes serious issues.

Myself, our field facilitator for the project (in the black shirt), and Peter Cheelo to the left of her (holding the rolled up paper).  The Munyeke River and the washed out bridge are behind us.

During these times of high rainfall the river can become nearly impassible to completely impossible to pass.  Water can fluctuate from half a meter deep to as much as eight (8) meters in depth and can cover an area of at least 35 meters in width. 

One issue on the Munyeke River exacerbates all this - there is no working bridge.  My program’s contact person in the area, Mr. Peter Cheelo, says that for as long as he can remember the bridge has been broken and continuously falling further and further into disrepair.  The way the bridges is situated means that it would still be submerged during bad rain events even if it was intact, but it would do the job for the majority of the year and allow people and vehicles to pass.  As it is now, even if the riverbed were bone-dry cars couldn't pass across its torn up surface.

The danger is that the river flows through a narrow gorge where all the water is forced to compact, which causes velocity and volume to both pick up.  

Mr. Cheelo beginning his crossing of the river.  Every time he crosses the river he has to carry his bike because the water is typically too deep to push it through.

In the past two years nine people have drown in the river, all while trying to cross.  The most tragic story I heard was about a woman that had just given birth at the nearby hospital – Macha Mission Hospital.  On her walk back to the village (just a day after delivering the baby) she came to the river.   A few days before there had been rain, and although the water was not as high as it often gets, the current was still moving swiftly.  She attempted to cross.  The new mother was carrying her newborn in a sling on her back (typical of most mothers here) when somehow the baby slipped out.  The baby was carried down river and drowned.  Stories like this are all too common to the people on the opposite side of the river, but it’s a hazard they live with.

On this day the water was low.  Some days the water will rise up to eight meters and make the river deadly to pass through.

In order to avoid this hazard residents take an alternative route when the rains have just fallen in the area… they travel nine to ten kilometers to another, intact bridge where they’re able to safely cross.  This alternate route adds considerable distance and effort to their daily lives. 

When the water is too high Mr. Cheelo and his neighbors have to attempt a dangerous crossing or travel an additional eight to ten kms (one way) in order to get to the nearest safe bridge.

Mr. Cheelo and other members of his community are beneficiaries of my program in Choma District and brought the problem to me.  Unfortunately, my program is not tasked - and therefore not funded - to fix issues like this, but it is mandated to try to link communities with government stakeholders that have interest in areas like this.  So, we did so.  

First, I advised Cheelo and his neighbors to take count of how many children (boys and girls) and adults (men and women) are cut off during the rainy season by the river’s flow.  Also, how the lack of a bridge affects delivery of government subsidized fertilizers, small business opportunities, etc... the things that make a community function.

Mr. Cheelo returning to our side of the river to get his papers before he can finally continue home.

Then, the program I manage brought government representatives to his community to meet with those affected by the lack of the bridge.  The government men urged the community to fill out a form and apply for funds to build / repair the bridge.  Bureaucracy.

And that was all we could do, Mr. Cheelo and I.  To be honest, I doubt much will come of it.  It falls on the government’s shoulders to do their jobs and they’re already cash strapped, not to mention they’re also less than interested in distant rural community’s issues when other pressing issues are closer to town and affect a lot more people; including themselves.  Plus, it also falls on Cheelo and his neighbors to keep the pressure on the government to act, and although I have no doubt that they want to do this – they also don’t have the resources to make continuous trips into the government offices to do so.  

Knee deep in brown water, Mr. Cheelo waves at us before riding home for the day.

It’s unfortunate that the problem is so pervasive, yet seems so difficult to remedy even though the solution is clear: a workable bridge.  As communities like this around the world face increases in severe rainfall - more situations like this will befall communities that lack the resources to significantly and meaningfully address their problems.  That's hard to consider, but it's a reality that will have to be faced throughout the world.