admin
Luthando Mapepa
Chipinge Correspondent
THE Zimbabwe Idai Recovery Project (ZIRP) has completed rehabilitating and upgrading water and sanitation infrastructure in Chipinge at a cost of US$600 000.
The project, which was launched in 2020 and funded by the World Bank and UNICEF in 2020, targeted some of the worst affected areas.
At least 15 000 people in those areas will now have access to safe water.
The project was implemented in Wards Six, Seven, Eight,10,11,13,17 and 22 of rural Chipinge.
A total of 25 boreholes were rehabilitated, while 32 springs were protected and four solar powered piped water schemes were installed.
The implementing partner, Oxfarm, has since trained Disaster Risk Reduction Committees within the wards they work in. They also trained Waterpoint Committees to ensure the safekeeping of the water points.
Officially opening the project at Gumira Primary School last week, Musikavanhu Member of National Assembly, Dr Joshua Murire said the water project will go a long way in uplifting the lives of local people.
“We are grateful with partners complementing the Government’s efforts to achieve an upper middle class economy by 2030.
“The project will help our communities have access to safe water. They will also set up small nutrition gardens,” he said.
Chipinge Rural District Ward 22 Councillor Evelyn Mhuru said: “Our area falls under natural region 5 and accessing water is a great challenge.
“Villagers have to walk long distances to access safe water but it is now a thing of the past.”
A villager, Mr John Machiya, said the villagers are grateful for the intervention.
“Our main source of water was Save River, which was not safe for human consumption. We are grateful that we now have safe drinking water,” he said.
Online Reporter