AT least 2 000 households in Chiredzi and Mwenezi now have access to clean water following the rehabilitation of boreholes by a local non-governmental organisation in partnership with United States Agency for International Development (USAid).
The project, co-ordinated by the Mwenezi Development Training Centre (MDTC), has seen rehabilitation of boreholes in Chiredzi’s wards 14 and 15.
MDTC programmes director, Promise Makoni, said the borehole rehabilitation programme ran under the theme: Strengthening resilience to enhance food security and nutrition of vulnerable rural communities to cope with recurrent shocks and stressors in Chiredzi district, in wards 14 and 15.
“Chiredzi has been hard hit by severe droughts and cyclones, hence this project is aimed at building resilience of the communities so that they will be able to withstand shocks and stressors in the event of droughts and cyclones,” Makoni said.
“The project is multi-faceted and covers small livestock production, WASH [Water, sanitation and hygiene] and financial literacy in a bid to build their resilience against shocks and stressors."
Makoni added: “There is community-level rehabilitation, protection, management, utilisation and maintenance of boreholes (bush pumps) to fulfil basic needs of 2 519 people.
"This has reduced the burden on women and girls of fetching water from distant places. Water-point user committees were trained to enlighten and empower them on their key roles and responsibilities to manage the water points.”
Thomas Chihlala, a villager from ward 15 applauded MDTC and USAid for rehabilitating the boreholes in his community.
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"We now have clean water. The rehabilitation of boreholes has reduced long distances that we travelled in search of the precious liquids,” Chihlala said.
Chiredzi district information officer Thembinkosi Ncube also applauded the implementing partners for complementing government efforts in ensuring that Chiredzi is not left behind in terms of development.
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