Water Needs

June to August and December to February are periods about which most people here have mixed feelings. To farmers, this is the period that brings partial joy - time to harvest and granaries refilled and food shortages become something of the past, and time when proceeds out of crop sales bring rare signs of joy to peasant farmers because for once they can afford the few luxuries of life. A new bicycle can be bought for the family, the wife of the house can expect a new dress, young men plan weddings, new houses are built, for once the family can enjoy a rare bite of meat and of course, beer sales boom away.

These little joys can be quite short lived because the money soon runs out and it is back to normal for most peasant farmers. As the dry spell advances midway through the season, the reality of living in these parts of the tropics dawns on most people. One of the most important essentials of survival - "water", becomes more rare. To many families finding and collecting water becomes a major preoccupation, sometimes the only task an individual can be expected to perform in a day. Hours before dawn men, women and children set off to collect water several miles away from their homes. The wise will arrange to have clothes washed by the water site, and others will bathe in the vicinity. They then trek back home , water filled containers on their heads, and get back just in time to prepare their evening meals, and then retire to bed.

In many parts, men and animals compete for the same water, and when ponds dry out herdsmen migrate to other parts of the country where water can be found. When the dry season is exceptionally severe, and this has been the trend these past few years, these herdsmen suffer the agony of watching their animals die due to lack of water. This is the time when in some homes taking one bath a week becomes a supreme luxury, meals are suspended, and the initial joy that characterised the beginning of the season is totally forgotten. People wait patiently for the next rainy season to bring water back to the local well.

This is the reality in many parts of this diocese particularly the grassland areas. Attempts have been made by government and local authorities to provide water in these parts by sinking bore holes. Some bore wells have served the people well, others have failed because the water ran out too soon or because it is saline.Our concern as a church is to provide safe clean water to our people so they are not forced into the humiliating situation of having to share water with animals, or have to suspend all other meaningful economic activities in search for water for their homes. Suggestions have been made in some quarters to pump the water from lakes and rivers in the area to supply these parts. It has been pointed out that such water could also be the start of serious irrigation efforts to make local agriculture less dependant on the increasingly uncertain seasonal rains. And with improved agriculture the peasantry will enjoy a boost in incomes and, hopefully a higher quality of life. A beautiful dream, if only the church had resources to turn it into reality!

Together with improved water supply to humans generally is our concern for the fate of our animal stocks, their keepers and the church. Persistent spells of drought often force our people to migrate in search for water for their animals and themselves. In these periods many of our churches lose substantial chunks of their congregations and consequently Sunday collections take a nose dive. Education to school going children is also interrupted. A solution to this problem could be found in excavating huge valley dams so that water is collected in rainy seasons that can keep the animals catered for in the dry season. A costly venture, but one about which we have little other viable option. It would boost animal farming tremendously and turn our people away from a nomadic life style. They could thus concentrate more on seriously developing their areas.

This is the case of serious water shortage in many parts of the diocese. We are open to ideas and would certainly welcome views from any individuals or organisations that would transform suggestions hinted at above into reality. May the Lord's name be glorified for any practical solutions and suggestions that will help throw the quest for water in these parts into the bins of history.

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