Water Wars Hit Rural Zimbabwe

http://www.ipsnews.net/africa/nota.asp?idnews=44294

Zimbabwe - hit hard by political conflict, man-made famine, poor government land policies and drought - is suffering from water scarcity and on the cusp of conflict over water.

This piece cites the Zimbabwean government's "failure to provide adequate resources to reduce water scarcity -- including skilled water experts, fuel for field technicians to reach remote areas, drilling machines to make boreholes and water purification chemicals -- have worsened water woes."

Wells have dried up throughout Zimbabwe and there has not been an effort to drill more boreholes.

The Ramakgoebana River which separates Zimbabwe from Botswana has become a source of tension between residents on both banks.

"Residents from the Botswana side of the river have claimed parts of the river as their own, threatening those from the Zimbabwean side with assault if they come to fetch water...out of desperation, villagers have started to bring their livestock to drink from the river too, as there is no alternative water source for animals."