Online Reporter
Gibson Mhaka, [email protected]
RESIDENTS of Khumalo Flats and Northend in Bulawayo have welcomed the drilling of two boreholes initiated by Zanu-PF Ward 1 council candidate Cde Mathias Tsikira, saying the projects will help ease water challenges that have affected communities in the area.
One borehole was drilled at Khumalo Flats and another in Northend on Thursday as Cde Tsikira intensified his campaign ahead of Saturday’s Ward 1 council by-election, with service delivery forming a key part of his campaign pitch.
The initiatives have been welcomed by residents who said water shortages had over the years affected households in the two areas, particularly during periods when municipal supplies were disrupted.
Speaking at Khumalo Flats after the borehole drilling, residents’ chairman Mr Tawanda Chivige said the community was happy with the initiative, describing it as a timely response to one of the area’s pressing challenges.
“At Khumalo Flats, we are very happy as residents to welcome this borehole drilling initiative brought by Zanu-PF aspiring councillor Cde Mathias Tsikira. This is a very positive development because we all know that here in Bulawayo we have a serious problem with water, and residents at the flats have not been spared,” he said.
Mr Chivige said residents had experienced periods of unreliable water supplies, which affected their ability to carry out basic household activities.
“There have been times when we have gone for long periods without reliable water supplies, making it difficult for families to carry out basic household activities such as cooking, washing, bathing and cleaning.
“As residents, we therefore appreciate this initiative because it brings hope that the availability of water will improve and some of the challenges we have been facing will be eased,” he said.
He said the community particularly appreciated initiatives that responded directly to challenges affecting residents.
“Water is a basic necessity and any effort aimed at improving access to it is welcome. We believe this borehole will go a long way in complementing existing water supplies and providing relief to residents, especially during periods when municipal supplies are interrupted,” said Mr Chivige.
He expressed hope that the borehole would be commissioned soon and become fully operational, adding that similar initiatives could benefit other communities facing water challenges across the city.
“We want to thank Cde Tsikira for listening to the concerns of residents and responding to a challenge that affects our daily lives. We hope the project will be completed soon and that more similar initiatives will be extended to other areas facing water challenges across the city,” he said.
Speaking at Khumalo Flats, Cde Tsikira said the two boreholes were part of a broader programme aimed at addressing community needs and improving access to basic services.
He said the projects demonstrated what he described as Zanu-PF’s commitment to translating campaign promises into tangible development initiatives.
“This is just but one of the many projects that we are fulfilling under the Second Republic. As a party, we do not want to make promises to the people and leave them as empty promises. We believe that when we make commitments to communities, we must come back and deliver on them,” he said.
Cde Tsikira said the boreholes were a practical response to water challenges affecting residents in Ward 1.
“These boreholes are a practical demonstration of that commitment because water is a basic necessity and we are responding to a challenge that residents have been facing for some time,” he said.
He said the initiatives were also aimed at ensuring that communities benefited directly from development programmes, particularly in areas where residents continued to face challenges in accessing basic services.
Cde Tsikira said he would continue engaging communities to identify pressing challenges and support projects aimed at improving people’s livelihoods.
He said the programme was in line with the Second Republic’s mantra of “leaving no one and no place behind”, adding that development should reach communities regardless of their location or circumstances.
The Ward 1 by-election has attracted three candidates — Cde Tsikira of Zanu-PF, Mr Mduduzi Sibanda of the CCC and independent candidate Mr Shepherd Sithole.
The candidates were successfully nominated on September 2, paving the way for the October 3 by-election.
The seat became vacant after former councillor Josiah Mutangi was removed from office following an independent tribunal’s finding of misconduct. The Ministry of Local Government and Public Works subsequently declared the seat vacant, triggering the by-election.
With polling day approaching, candidates have intensified their campaigns, with service delivery and access to basic services featuring prominently in the contest.
