Story by Gay Matambo
Communities in Chiredzi district are benefitting from a borehole sinking programme that has been rolled out by the Chiredzi Rural District Council in partnership with the locals.
Chiredzi North constituency is the latest to benefit from the programme, with 14 boreholes having been sunk in most wards across the constituency.
The programme has seen villagers and the local authority join hands in mobilising resources needed for the sinking of the boreholes in a move meant to avert potable water scarcity challenges in the area.
“We used to travel for close to 7kms for clean water and water for the livestock could only be accessed 15kms from here, but when council and the local leadership came up with this idea in village 10, we now have access to clean water,” said a villager.
“I’m from Village 9 and as our area is dry and very rocky. We partnered with council in the sense that we put ourselves in groups and contributed money for the purchase of fuel for the drilling rig and the council provided the rig to us for free,” noted another.
The programme is a continuation of the Presidential Borehole Drilling Scheme launched in 2021, aiming to increase clean water availability for communities across the country as explained by Chiredzi Rural District Council Chairman, Councillor John Mashingaidze.
“The programme is aimed at fulfilling President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s vision of leaving no one and no place behind in terms of development. After benefitting from devolution funds, as Chiredzi Rural District we purchased a drilling rig and we embarked on this programme where each village mobilised funds for fuel for the rig and pipes and as council we come in with the rig for free. The programme has been rolled out in 32 wards across the district. 14 boreholes have been sunk so far in this ward, he said.
Chiredzi Rural District Council Chief Executive Officer, MR Ailless Baloyi weighed in, “The programme is robust. We work with communities to ensure that we provide water across the district. At the moment we are in Chiredzi North. The programme is going to be cascaded to other wards as we progress.”
In line with broader government strategies, the borehole sinking programme seeks to bolster the lives of rural communities by providing a sustainable water supply to mitigate the effects of climate change, which has led to severe water shortages in the region.
