A GOVERNMENT initiative to address water scarcity in various communities has brought relief to Guruve residents in Mashonaland Central province, who are benefiting from the Presidential Borehole Drilling Scheme.
The programme, being undertaken by Prevail International Group, has provided a lifeline to residents and villagers, especially those who were previously reliant on expensive prepaid water.
Precious Marimbe, a resident, said prepaid water was not sufficient and they had to pay through their nose for a month’s supply.
“We were relying on prepaid water, where we bought 4 000 litres for US$10 and you would find that it would not even last three weeks, so we had to either ask from neighbours or walk a long distance to the available borehole,” she said.
“However, with boreholes being drilled close to every household for free, the programme has helped a lot of residents, especially, those who did not have money to buy prepaid water.”
The borehole drilling scheme has not only provided a convenient source of water, but has also improved the overall quality of life for Guruve residents.
Precious Maburukire, a local resident, whose left leg is partially paralysed, also shared her joy over the project.
“Before the boreholes were drilled, I had to walk a long distance to another district to fetch water. It was a real struggle. Now, there are boreholes in every district, making it much easier for me to access clean water,” she said.
- Boreholes bring relief to Guruve
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Calias Muchamba said the community, dominated by workers from Eureka Gold Mine, was struggling to pay for water.
“Besides paying for the water, which was sometimes contaminated, people could not afford it, but the boreholes have bought relief to the community on water scarcity,” he said.
Prevail International spokesperson Tariro Dondo said mining towns like Guruve were affected as their water sources, such as dams, were affected by chemicals.
“Mining towns are affected by chemicals that contaminate rivers, which are their water sources. So with the drilling of boreholes, people have access to clean water and we are looking to widen scope further to every rural home,” she said.
Prevail Group International was engaged by the Zimbabwe National Water Authority to drill 10 000 boreholes with irrigation capabilities across Zimbabwe.
The project is a component of a government initiative to improve rural populations’ access to water and to change their standards of living through horticultural farming.
