Online Reporter
Precious Manomano-Herald Reporter
More than 3 945 boreholes have now been drilled under the Presidential Rural Development Programme, a landmark initiative designed to guarantee clean water access and spearhead an additional revenue source for rural dwellers.
At the heart of the PRDP is an ambitious plan to establish 35 000 village business units — one in every village — to provide clean domestic water and allow the village to set up a small horticultural business.
These Village Business Units (VBUs) will act as economic hubs, complemented by 4 800 Youth Business Units and 9 600 School Business Units.
Together, they are expected to generate household income, create jobs, and transform livelihoods.
The Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) will eventually drill and equip 35 000 solar-powered boreholes across all eight rural provinces, ensuring every village has access to 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 for Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Professor Obert Jiri, stated that the boreholes were already improving lives.
“Families can now access clean water from solar-powered boreholes and start community gardens that will alleviate many 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.
Prof Jiri noted that Village Business Units have already proved 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,” Prof Jiri said.
The programme 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 new streams of income related to 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.
To date, 659 business units have been established, providing a foundation for self-reliance and growth. The Agricultural Marketing Authority is working to connect these units with viable markets, ensuring their activities remain sustainable and demand-driven.
Peter Tanyanyiwa