Online Reporter
Online Reporter
THE Government has drilled more than 3 945 boreholes under the Presidential Rural Development Programme (PRDP), a landmark initiative designed to guarantee access to clean water and spearhead rural industrialisation.
At the heart of the PRDP is an ambitious plan to establish 35 000 village business units (VBUs) across the country.
These VBUs will act as economic hubs, complemented by 4 800 youth business units and 9 600 school business units.
Together, they are expected to boost household income, create jobs and transform livelihoods.
The Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) plans to drill and equip 35 000 solar-powered boreholes across all eight rural provinces, ensuring every village has access to potable water.
Beyond providing safe drinking water, the boreholes will support nutrition gardens, fisheries and livestock production, reshaping the economic and social fabric of rural communities.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Professor Obert Jiri said the boreholes were already improving lives and livelihoods.
“Families can now access clean water from solar-powered boreholes and start community gardens that will alleviate the majority of them from poverty as they engage in growing horticultural products,” he said.
The boreholes are enabling the establishment of community gardens that enhance food security, create sustainable income streams and improve nutrition.
They are also providing water for livestock and dip tanks, further strengthening rural agriculture.
VBUs, Prof Jiri said, have already proven to be transformative.
“VBUs have proved to be a game-changer for the beneficiary rural communities whose lives are being transformed in terms of food security, employment creation and enhanced income generation.”
The PRDP forms part of the wider Rural Development 8.0 strategy, which integrates initiatives such as Pfumvudza/Intwasa, the Presidential Poultry Scheme, Goat Scheme, Fisheries Scheme, and Cotton Inputs Scheme.
This comprehensive approach ensures that rural transformation is multi-dimensional — covering water access, agricultural productivity and economic empowerment.
By guaranteeing that every village has a borehole and community garden, the PRDP aligns with President Mnangagwa’s vision to deliver water to the people and ensure no one is left behind.
The programme also reduces the distances women and girls traditionally travel to fetch water, easing their burden and freeing up time for education and economic activities.
