Online Reporter
Patrick Chitumba, Midlands Bureau Chief
FOR years, fetching water in parts of Shurugwi District, Midlands Province, meant waking up before sunrise, trekking long distances, and waiting in winding queues at drying wells. Today, for villagers like Ms Mary Munhundiripo, clean water flows closer to home, renewing hope for better livelihoods.
“I would just like to say thank you very much to President Mnangagwa for the water programme. We had been lagging behind in terms of development, but with this initiative, we are now on track to achieve Vision 2030,” she said.
Ms Munhundiripo is among hundreds of villagers in communities such as Dombwe, Dera, and Matsa who are beginning to feel the impact of the Presidential Borehole Drilling Scheme. This flagship Second Republic programme aims to end water scarcity and uplift rural livelihoods.
Shurugwi District, situated within semi-arid natural regions, has historically been vulnerable to erratic rainfall. This has made access to reliable water a major constraint for both household welfare and agricultural productivity. Many boreholes drilled decades ago had fallen into disrepair, while rivers and shallow wells frequently ran dry before the end of winter.
Under the new scheme, solar-powered boreholes are being drilled and equipped with storage tanks, ensuring year-round access to potable water while reducing dependence on diesel or electricity. This approach also aligns with the Government’s broader renewable energy and climate resilience strategies.
The scheme provides reliable water for domestic use while simultaneously supporting income-generating projects, such as nutrition gardens, which are now taking shape around the boreholes. Community members report that the availability of water has already transformed daily life, particularly for women and children who previously spent hours searching for the precious resource. Long queues and seasonal shortages are becoming a thing of the past, while small-scale farming activities are gaining momentum.
Each borehole is paired with a nutrition garden, with the proceeds benefiting local households, improving food security, and creating opportunities for income generation. The programme is part of a nationwide drive by President Mnangagwa to install 35 000 solar-powered boreholes across both rural and urban areas, in line with the Second Republic’s philosophy of leaving no one and no place behind.
Minister of State for Midlands Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Owen Ncube, said the initiative is central to improving rural livelihoods and public health.
“The aim of this programme is to address chronic water shortages, reduce the distances travelled in search of water and improve the quality of life for our people. Access to clean and safe water is a key enabler of socio-economic development, particularly in areas such as Shurugwi,” he said.
Minister Ncube commended President Mnangagwa for rolling out people-centred programmes that directly respond to the everyday needs of communities. Shurugwi North legislator, Joseph Mupasi, echoed these sentiments, noting that the borehole drilling programme is already easing the burden on rural households.
“This is a clear indication that we have a caring Government. The continued drilling and installation of solar-powered boreholes is making a measurable contribution to water security,” he said. “We are also on track with the construction of village nutrition gardens at every borehole, which will uplift living standards.”
Bongani Ndlovu