derick.khumalo
Theseus Mauruki Shambare in CHIVI
A SOLAR-POWERED BOREHOLE installed at the Johan Marange St Nimrod Chitowa Centre in Chivi under the Presidential Community Borehole Project is set to transform access to clean water while strengthening sanitation and disease prevention among congregants.
The intervention is part of Government’s broader drive to improve access to clean and safe water in communities through the Presidential Community Borehole Project, with the Johan Marange centre now benefiting from a reliable water source for drinking, cooking, washing and maintaining hygiene.
For congregants, the development is more than an infrastructure project.
It is a direct response to a basic need that has affected daily life at the centre, which attracts large numbers of worshippers.
Madzibaba Abel Nzviyo, a congregant at the centre, said the availability of clean water would significantly improve conditions for worshippers.
“We are very grateful because water has been a challenge here,” he said.
“At times, it was difficult to access clean water for drinking and other uses, but now we have water that is close to us and safe.”
Nzviyo said the new water source would make it easier for congregants to maintain hygiene while carrying out their daily activities.
“As someone who regularly comes here, this brings us great joy because water is needed for everything we do. We can now wash, cook and drink clean water without having to struggle,” he said.
The importance of the project extends beyond convenience, particularly in a setting where large gatherings can increase the need for adequate water and sanitation facilities.
Sarah Chisvo, a health worker and congregant at the centre, said access to safe water was an important component of disease prevention.
“As a health worker and a congregant here, I see access to clean water as very important in preventing diseases,” she said.
“Clean water helps us wash our hands, prepare food, drink safely and keep the place where we live and worship clean.”
Chisvo said the availability of water would help reduce the risk of waterborne diseases such as cholera and typhoid while encouraging better hygiene practices among congregants.
“So, this borehole is not just about providing us with water. It is helping us improve sanitation and protect the health of our people, particularly children and the elderly who come here,” she said.
The intervention comes as Government continues to prioritise water, sanitation and hygiene as key measures in preventing outbreaks of waterborne diseases.
Speaking at the centre, Chivi North legislator Cde Godfrey Huruva Mukungunugwa said efforts to provide the borehole had faced setbacks, with two attempts initially failing to yield water.
He said the project was nevertheless pursued until a viable water source was found.
“We came here and drilled for water twice but failed, but we persevered until we finally found it,” said Cde Mukungunugwa.
He said the provision of clean water was critical in protecting communities from diseases such as cholera and typhoid.
“We do not want people to suffer from diseases such as cholera and typhoid. We encourage cleanliness and that is why we are providing people with clean water,” he said.
The Presidential Community Borehole Project is designed to expand access to reliable water sources while supporting improved livelihoods, health and sanitation in communities.
At the Johan Marange centre, the solar-powered system also provides a more sustainable source of water without depending entirely on conventional electricity supplies.
Mukungunugwa said Government would continue engaging communities to address basic needs and support development initiatives.
Beyond water and sanitation, he said plans were being considered for additional social infrastructure at the centre, including a health facility and a school.
He said the proposed health facility would be named the Emmerson Mnangagwa Clinic, while a school would also be developed following requests from the community.
Mukungunugwa said the presence of many children at the centre underscored the need to support their education.
“I have seen many children here today. Are you taking your children to school?” he asked, with the congregation responding in the affirmative.
He subsequently pledged to provide ballpoint pens to support children attending school.
For the Johan Marange community, the solar-powered borehole provides an opportunity to turn access to water into improved health outcomes.
Chisvo said the responsibility now lay with the community to protect the infrastructure and maintain good hygiene.
“What is important now is for people to use this water responsibly and continue maintaining good hygiene,” she said.
For congregants who have long faced difficulties accessing clean water, the Presidential Community Borehole Project intervention offers something fundamental — a safer environment in which to worship, raise children and build a healthier community.
