Residents of Wenchiki in the Chereponi District in the North East Region have received a rehabilitated community dam, following years of severe water shortage.
This project undertaken by the the Coastal State Systematic Mechanism (CSSM) is expected to improve access to water for both domestic use and farming while supporting lasting peace in the community.
For years, the Wenchiki community was faced by a difficult chieftaincy dispute. Sadly, this conflict led to the loss of more than six lives and stopped progress in the area.
Even after peace began to return severe water crisis made life hard for residents after heavy rains destroyed the community’s only dam, residents were left with only one borehole.
The situation finally changed when the Coastal State Systematic Mechanism (CSSM) stepped in.
Understanding that a community needs peace and basic services to thrive, the CSSM rehabilitated the damaged dam and installed a brand-new, mechanized borehole to provide steady water for everyone.
Jonathan Dery, the National Director of CSSM explained that, the provision of the new borehole and the rehabilitation of the dam were intended to reduce communal tensions and alleviate daily burdens.
He noted that the project provides essential relief, particularly for women and children who were the most impacted by the scarcity and added that the dam will serve as a vital resource for local agricultural activities.
Because of the lingering conflict, different groups were unable to share the same water source.
This left women and children to walk for hours every day just to find water for their homes.
The lack of water was becoming a major problem that threatened to fuel the conflict all over again.
The Chief of Wenchiki shared the trauma they faced, “it was a very difficult time for us. The water shortage was making our divisions worse and life was very hard. But after many meetings with stakeholders, our people have decided to come together. We have agreed to embrace lasting peace because we know that we cannot move forward without it. We are very thankful to the CSSM for this help, which gives us a solid foundation for our future.”
Today, the dam and the new borehole are fully working, helping the people of Wenchiki with their farming and daily needs.
This project shows that when people have access to the resources they need, it is much easier to maintain peace.
According to the North East Regional minister, Ibrahim Tia, the government is committed to helping communities that choose to live in harmony.
He assured that government will not allow anyone to cause trouble or start violence in the area again, warning that the law will deal with anyone who tries to break the peace they have worked so hard to restore.
By Solomon Kwame Kanaluwe
