IT WAS HELL, HEADMASTER RECALLS CHRONIC WATER CHALLENGES‘…Every week, on average, 10 students were sent to hospital’

Ashley Mujoma

A HEADMASTER has revealed that his school used to face serious water challenges he used to send about 10 students to hospital, every week, with stomach ailments.

The dire situation has since been resolved after Unlimited Hope Alliance Trust, in partnership with the Coca-Cola Foundation, drilled a solar-powered borehole at Katsenga Primary School in Makoni District.

It is part of a project to provide clean and safe water for children.

The two organisations run the Enhancing Access to Safe Water Supply in the Makoni district.

Katsenga Primary School Headmaster, Salt Emmanuel, said he was humbled by the donation.

“I don’t know how to show my excitement and appreciation to these organisations for helping our community,” he said.

“When I started working at Katsenga Primary in June 2014, the first challenge I encountered was the issue of water.

“Teachers and children were drinking dirty water.

“The situation was very bad as I had to refer at least 10 students to hospital, every week suffering from stomach problems,” he said.

Unlimited Hope Alliance Trust director, Mary Chigumira, said the project is aimed at fighting cholera in the district.

“We joined hands and came up with the project to help the community by providing safe and clean water to fight cholera outbreaks in the area.

“This is because we recognise that everyone matters in society,” she said.

A parent, Tonderai Katsenga, said they were grateful to the two organisations for coming to their rescue by providing the community with clean water.

“As a parent, who has children at Katsenga Primary, I am so happy with this donation because now our children can drink safe and clean water.

“I am also happy that members of the community are also allowed to fetch water from the school borehole for free,” he said.