Zambia's rural food security and human development depend enormously on subsistence agriculture. Agriculture determines food availability, the first link in the food security chain. The aim of this study was to assess the water available for livestock and garden irrigation in dry Season for six selected water points (dams) used for garden irrigation and livestock watering in Zimba District. The study revealed that the total number of livestock that drink from the six selected water points is 11,850. The total area under garden irrigation is 8.1 hectares. The estimated total water volume in the dams at full capacity was 207,478.70 m³. The total water available for livestock and irrigation after taking into consideration evaporation and seepage from the dams is 52,189.50 m³ . While the combined water needed for livestock and garden irrigation in dry season is 112,893.12 m³ . This means there is an approximately water deficit of about 60,703.62 m³ . This is has a result of combination of factors such as, limited reservoir dam facilities, sedimentation of reservoirs, increasing population of livestock and irrigation farming , climate change and variability. It is concluded that rural development in Zimba District can be slow and difficult if a water supply and availability for rural agriculture development among subsistence farmers cannot be assured in both rain season and dry season.