The Communities across the country’s 10 provinces are expressing gratitude towards the government as the Presidential borehole drilling scheme has expanded to all provinces of Zimbabwe, providing much-needed access to potable water for rural and urban communities.
Clean portable water has been a challenge for some rural and urban communities in Africa and the Government has been bringing up projects and programs to alleviate this problem.
This program aims at providing clean water to the country’s 35,000 villages by 2025 and it has been spearheaded by the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) while partnering with contracted partners.
Addressing the media, Tempter Tungwarara of Prevail International – one of the leading contractors with over 200 installations – said they prioritized and strategically placed boreholes in regions that have long struggled with water scarcity.
“These include Zaka, Chivi, Gutu, Nkayi, Chipinge, and many more, urban areas too, as they are now in serious water crisis over CCC’s failure to lead local councils.”
According to testimonies, the positive impacts are already being felt around these provinces.
Godfrey Mukungunugwa, representing the Chivi North constituency, commended the relief the boreholes have brought to three wards that were heavily reliant on the Chida waterhole.
He said, “This area is a dark corner, far from the main routes, and when support comes, people here are overlooked for those close to main roads. This resulted in three wards being overly dependent on Chida. But I’m glad the borehole facility has been stationed at this convergent zone. It brings relief.”
Meanwhile, yesterday, thanking a solar-powered borehole drilled by President in Gwangwara village under Chief Rukweza, Mrs. Rutendo Gwenhure said she was short of words.
“We used to do laundry at a river, but now we have been equipped with a solar-powered borehole with four taps. This is a huge relief to us villagers around this area.
“We were also accessing water from unsafe sources but thanks to the able leadership of President Mnangagwa. We assure him of our votes,” she said.
Another villager, Mr Kudakwashe Mudzingwa also added, “We thank our President for the solar-powered borehole which will be accessed by anyone from the community.
“It will help us a lot especially this coming summer season as our wells would be usually dry this time around.”
Mrs. Priscilla Gondora from Gokwe was elated over the installation of a borehole in her area. She said, “One of the bush pump boreholes which we used to rely on had dried up and it was contaminated by rust. We thank the President for the borehole scheme.”
While addressing a Presidential Star Rally at Handina primary school in Nyazura, President Mnangagwa assured party supporters that the program will go on post-elections until all the 35,000 villages across the country are catered for.
“Within 3 to 4 years inside of the 35 000 villages each one will have a solar-powered borehole,” he said.