35 000 boreholes by 2025

Leonard Ncube–Victoria Falls Reporter

More than 35 000 boreholes must be drilled countrywide by 2025 to give at least one borehole for every village. 

The Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) has drilled almost 300 boreholes already this year to improve rural communities’ access to water and help transform livelihoods through horticulture.

The development dovetails with Government’s policy of devolution and decentralisation of services to communities for improved service delivery and economic development, anchored on the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) in the push to make Zimbabwe an upper middle-income economy by 2030.

Zinwa spokesperson Mrs Marjorie Munyonga said the authority was working with all Ministers of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution in identifying sites for boreholes based on needs of communities.

“Zinwa is involved in the drilling of 35 000 boreholes countrywide during the NDS1 period to improve rural livelihoods,” she said. 

“During the year 2021, 1 800 boreholes were targeted. The ultimate intention of the programme is to have at least a borehole per village and reduce to less than one kilometre the average distance one has to travel to get water.” 

She said siting of the boreholes was in progress and 276 have already been drilled this year.

To expedite progress, Mrs Munyonga said Zinwa was procuring 40 borehole drilling rigs to be delivered from next month. 

“These boreholes are expected to anchor the Presidential Horticultural Programme, which will in turn lead to the creation of village industrial centres in line with the rural industrialisation agenda,” she said.

In Matabeleland North, drilling has started in Lusulu, Binga.

Minister of State for Matabeleland North Provincial Affairs and Devolution Richard Moyo said the borehole drilling programme was one of the many initiatives being implemented by the Second Republic to improve livelihoods.