Online Reporter
Debra Matabvu
Senior Reporter
THE country has recorded significant improvements in water, sanitation and hygiene services over the past decade, particularly in rural areas, following the implementation of various Government programmes and projects, Cabinet noted yesterday.
The interventions have improved access to clean water, sanitation facilities and hygiene services, while the Presidential Borehole Scheme has accelerated rural transformation through the drilling of thousands of boreholes nationwide.
Speaking at a post-Cabinet briefing yesterday, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Zhemu Soda said Government remains committed to prioritising water infrastructure development as part of efforts to attain Vision 2030.
“The Inter-Ministerial Committee on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) also known as the WASH National Committee is implementing an integrated multisectoral and Whole-of-Government approach for sectoral policy and strategy development,” he said.
Minister Soda said the Committee is also implementing a number of projects and programmes, with many notable milestones achieved including the development of a multiplicity of sectoral policy interventions such as the National Sanitation and Hygiene policy and strategy, WASH compact, WASH in healthcare facilities and insurance strategy for rural water supplies and others.
Minister Soda added that access to potable water in rural areas improved from 71 percent in 2016 to 81 percent last year, while access to sanitation facilities improved from 63 percent in 2016 to 65 percent last year.
Equally, basic hygiene improved from 8 percent in 2016 to 11,9 percent by the end of last year.
“Regarding urban water security, most centres have sufficient raw water to last until the next run-off season, as the raw water supply dams are 70 percent to 98 percent full,” said Minister Soda.
National dam levels stood at 93,1 percent as of May 14 this year, compared to 88 percent recorded in the same period last year.
Minister Soda said the available water in major dams would support irrigation activities covering 243 888 hectares throughout the farming season.
