adminSukulwenkosi Dube Plumtree Correspondent
SIXTY percent of schools in Matabeleland South Province are still operating without clean water and proper ablution facilities leading to increased cases of water-borne diseases.Speaking on the state of water in the province during a joint ministerial tour of Rural Wash programmes in Bulilima and Plumtree last week, Provincial Administrator Midard Khumalo said an analysis had shown that water sources in some parts of the province were contaminated.
“The access to quality water is still a problem that we have to contend with as a province. Tests that we have carried out have shown signs of bacterial and chemical content in water in Insiza, Beitbridge and Mzingwane.
“We are yet to conduct some tests in other parts of the province. Access to clean water by the rural folk still remains a concern,” said Khumalo.
Khumalo gave a breakdown of water-borne diseases recorded in the province caused by use of unprotected water sources.
“Attempts are being made to ensure effective water and sanitation coverage in the province. So far 40 percent of schools have been covered and the remaining ones need immediate intervention.
“One thousand one hundred and thirty six cases of diarrhoea were recorded in the province with Matobo District accounting for 249 cases followed by Mangwe with 201 cases. The district with the lowest cases was Gwanda which recorded 97,” said Khumalo.
He said Beitbridge District had so far received the lowest sanitary coverage under the Rural Wash programme.
“The construction and upgrading of pit latrines is still in progress throughout the province, 544 latrines have been built throughout and the leading district is Gwanda. The process is also ongoing in schools as well.
“Sanitary coverage targeted by the rehabilitation programme is still very low in Beitbridge as we have covered 19 percent of expected coverage. A lot of progress has been done in Mangwe as 58 percent has been covered so far,” he said.
Khumalo also called for the capacitation of the District Development Fund (DDF) citing that it was delaying progress in addressing the province’s water problems.
“The DDF used to assist in the drilling of boreholes but as of now, they do not have the equipment and resources to facilitate this process. This is slowing down the process of drilling and repairing boreholes,” he said.
The Rural Water and Sanitation Programme rolled into the province with the purpose of improving water and sanitation services. The programme by Unicef focuses on the construction and upgrading of pit latrines. It also focuses on the drilling and repairing of boreholes.
Ministers who graced the function highlighted government’s commitment towards addressing water woes faced by the rural folk. Senior Minister of State in the President’s Office, Ambassador Simon Khaya Moyo, Minister of Environment, Water and Climate, Cde Saviour Kasukuwere, Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, Dr Ignatius Chombo and Minister of State for Provincial Affairs, Cde Abednico Ncube, among others, were on the tour.
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