Musaya Ward in Chirundu District has long struggled with severe water scarcity following the devastating flash floods of 2008-2009. These floods displaced over 102,000 families and resulted in significant loss of life in Zambia, and Musaya ward was not spared. Among the critical infrastructure damaged was the Zemba Zemba Dam, which served as the primary water source for agriculture, fishing, and daily community needs. The destruction of the dam’s spillway and walls made it impossible for residents to rely on the dam, forcing them to depend on one borehole which produced unhealthy water suspected of having heavy metals.
For over 17 years, the people of Musaya Ward have tirelessly called for the rehabilitation of the dam. Their plea was consistently raised during capacity-building workshops organized by the Centre for Environment Justice (CEJ) under its Disability Inclusion in Climate Action Project in 2022. Recognizing the urgent need to restore the dam, CEJ incorporated the rehabilitation project into its broader initiative and began advocacy efforts to secure funding and technical support.
Milestone Achievements
In 2024, CEJ, with financial backing from WWF under the Voice for Just Climate Action (VCA) program, successfully secured funding for a feasibility study and dam designs. The study confirmed that the area’s catchment could not support boreholes, reinforcing the need to rehabilitate the dam. This finding strengthened CEJ’s advocacy, leading to the VCA approving EUR 10,000 towards the dam’s rehabilitation.
Through persistent lobbying efforts, the Chirundu Town Council allocated K600,000 from the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to support the construction of a new spillway, the most critical and expensive part of the dam. The council took charge of the tendering process, ensuring transparency and selecting a reputable contractor in January 2025 after a rigorous bidding process. The Ministry of Water Resources Development and Sanitation provided technical expertise, appointing a site project manager to oversee the rehabilitation.
On February 21, 2025, in a momentous event, the Chirundu Town Council, in the presence of CEJ representatives and community members, officially handed over the project site to the contractor. Engineers from the ministry of water resource development and sanitation will conduct a final embankment on February 26, 2025, before construction begins on February 27, 2025. The council has already disbursed 25% of the total spillway construction cost of K893,176.80 to facilitate the commencement of work.
The Road Ahead and Community Involvement
The long-awaited rehabilitation of the Zemba Zemba Dam represents a beacon of hope for the over 6,500 residents of Musaya Ward. This project will not only restore access to clean drinking water but also revitalize agriculture and fishing activities, which are crucial to the community’s economic survival. The rehabilitation plans also include a water filtration system to ensure safe drinking water for households and adequate supply for livestock.
Musaya residents have shown remarkable commitment to ensuring transparency in project implementation. They have pledged to monitor the financial transactions related to the dam’s rehabilitation and to work closely with CEJ and the contractor to track project progress. Additionally, CEJ and community members will continue resource mobilization efforts to cover remaining project costs, actively engaging external donors and government entities to secure full funding before the year’s end.
Conclusion
The launch of the Zemba Zemba Dam rehabilitation marks a historic milestone for Musaya Ward. After nearly two decades of struggle, hope is finally being restored as work on the long-awaited project begins. With the combined efforts of CEJ, WWF, the VCA program, Chirundu Town Council, the Ministry of Water Resources, and the dedicated people of Musaya, water is truly coming back to life in the community. This project stands as a testament to the power of persistent advocacy, community-driven solutions, and collaborative development. The people of Musaya can now look forward to a future of improved water security, economic stability, and sustainable livelihoods.
Gabriel Mukuka – Programme Coordinator for Climate Change and Sustainable Energy
