adminPrecious Manomano, Herald Reporter
At least 150 boreholes will be drilled every week using 60 rigs under the Presidential Rural Development Programme.
This comes as the Government moves to ensure availability of clean water in 635 critical wards where livestock and people are in urgent need of clean water sources.
The boreholes are expected to be deeper than average, to make sure they can be used in the hot months of a drought year, and all things being equal, the full 635 should have been drilled by month end.
Due to low rains received in the last season, many water sources are running dry, causing severe shortages in areas such as Zaka, Mberengwa and Chivi, among others.
The Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) and private contractors will deploy 60 rigs to the affected areas to speed up the drilling of boreholes.
A report by the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development indicates that 30 boreholes would be drilled per week in 63 livestock critical wards of Mashonaland Central, 10 a week each in Mashonaland East and West which have 30 critical wards each, 15 a week in Midlands to meet the 125 need, 25 a week in Matabeleland North for the 167 wards, and 20 a week in Matabeleland South for 96 wards.
Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Permanent Secretary Professor Obert Jiri said the drilling of boreholes and provision of water troughs would continue to save both people and livestock.
“In addition to the solarised boreholes which supply water to livestock and people, installation of water troughs continue in every ward, so the borehole drilling programme continues for critical wards.
“We have shifted our focus to ensure that rigs are prioritised to these critical wards to ensure that water is available. We continue to face water challenges as the drought continues to bite in the lean season, particularly livestock where water issues are critical,” he said.
Solar powered boreholes are being drilled to enable communities to get clean water for domestic use and to start community gardens, fisheries and orchards to boost nutrition.
The water will also be used for dip-tanks so that cattle get adequate dipping.
People have welcomed the decision to drill more boreholes to curb water shortages.
Ms Juliet Mubaiwa of Zvimba said: “Areas such as Chikaka, Matsvitsi, Mabvure and Madzorera are facing serious water challenges. Our wells have dried up.
“We get drinking water from a neighbour’s well. Sometimes we get two buckets from that well per household, then look for alternatives.”
Online Reporter