Mahove, day #2

Day #2 of Mahove actually began in Mahuninga with this beautiful child.

It was Friday, and our driver Esau dropped Pastor John Mhekwa and me in Mahuninga so he could drive to the Ruaha National Park entrance and retrieve Bibi Sharon and Bibi Jude from their safari.  John and I soon met up with Azuberi Mhema, evangelist at Mahove, and began a "kuzunguka zunguka" or a walk about town.

We stopped by the Mahuninga chapel and then dropped some gifts at John's sister in law's home.  We headed toward the primary school where we would locate the pipeline leading toward Mahove.

Along the way, we met up with John's dad.

Now, the water system that leads to Mahove actually starts farther up the road, beyond Kisilwa.  It leads from a spring fed river to an intake pipe leading into a storage tank.  In the photo above, the intake pipe is around the curve to the right (not shown), and the outflow is underground to the left. The pipe you see on the right is an overflow or release valve.  If there's one challenge with this water system, it's that there's too much water and too much pressure.  To relieve the overflow, this pipe on the right leads to a trough which irrigates a couple fields growing corn and vegetables.

The water line flows downhill to serve the communities of Kisilwa, Mahuninga, and Makifu.  Just a kilometer before it reaches Mahuninga, there is a junction at Kitolongolo.  That's where the new pipe splits off and leads toward Mahove.

So John, Azuberi and I found the pipeline as it passes through the primary school yard at Mahuninga, and began to follow the path toward Mahove.  Azuberi knows this path well, having been one of the lead workers on the project.  He noted as we passed through someone's corn field, "the farmers didn't like me too much the first time I came and they found out we were going to dig a trench through their field."  But no one stays angry with Azuberi for long.

As we  walked, I was so encouraged by the quality of workmanship  we saw.  All the pipes were covered in a trench a meter deep.  If the soil erodes and the pipes become exposed to sunlight, they could degrade and spring leaks. 

In a couple spots we saw small puddles like this, indicating a small leak below.  In two other places, we saw larger damp spots where there had been a leak that had been fixed within the past days.  Azuberi explained that the congregation had brought in one local worker and one from Iringa to make sure everything was in working order for the dedication the next day.

After almost four kilometers, we come to the road leading out of Mahuninga, and we walk the road until we reach the bridge.  To cross the bridge, the pvc pipeline is encased in a metal pipe. (Note to previous travelers: this is the point at which we had the option of driving off road, or walking the rest of the way to Mahove.  Now, beyond the bridge, the road has been graded and is an amazingly comfortable ride.)

We continue walking, this time uphill.  We meet up with a few Maasai men, and some boys tending their goat flocks.  Every other time I've passed this way I would see women and girls with large buckets of water on their heads, but no more.

The way became rougher, and Azuberi would caution, "pole, pole, Mama" or "slowly, slowly" whenever I stumbled.  John had insisted on carrying my backpack.

No water has ever felt as refreshing as that water at the top of the Mahove hill.

Pastor Naftal joined us then, and we continued on a tour of the village.  There are six taps, each spread about a kilometer apart.  The first is at the homes of Petro and his extended family, the second at the church.  A third serves the Juma extended family, a fourth is at the Kanayaa compound (where the water circle is fenced to keep out the cattle), a fifth at Klelii home, and the sixth is for cattle.  There will be a trench built at that last stop, and for now it serves as a release valve for the entire system.  When the pressure is too great, that tap is left open.

We come back to the shade at the chapel around 11, expecting to see the training session for the villagers in progress.  There's maybe a dozen people there.  Today's training is supposed to be another round like yesterday's, but open to all the villagers in Mahove as well as neighboring villages Mahuninga and Makifu.  So far, it looks like the same people who came yesterday are the only ones there.  It seems most of the women are busy preparing food for the next day's celebration. 

Finally, the training begins after 3 p.m.  Most Mahove families are at least represented by one member of the family.  I find myself wishing we had arranged transportation from the neighboring villages.  In the end, the training is well received by those attending.  It's all good.