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Fungai Lupande-Mash Central Bureau
GOVERNMENT is committed to ending water challenges in rural services centres, growth points, and small towns to achieve universal access to water, Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Resettlement Dr Anxious Masuka said.
Minister Masuka said this while commissioning the Chimhanda pipeline in Rushinga that was rehabilitated by the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) as part of the drive towards Vision 2030 to make the country an upper middle-class economy and to leave no place behind in terms of development.
A $700 million kitty has been set aside for the rehabilitation of water supply stations in Zimbabwe with ZINWA rehabilitating 40 water suppliers countrywide to push clean water supply to 33, 7 million cubic meters by year-end.
The Chimhanda water pipeline was rehabilitated to the tune of $57, 2 million and will supply clean water to Rushinga, Chimhanda and Nyamatikiti communities.
Investment in water supplies in small towns, growth points, and rural service centres is in line with President’s Mnangagwa’s mantra of leaving no one and no place behind.
“The Government, through the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Resettlement we have embarked in the drilling of 35 000 boreholes in each of the 35 000 villages in the country.
“We are also drilling boreholes in each of the 9 600 schools throughout the country and the drilling of the 3 600 boreholes, two per ward to set up youth ward agri-prenuership incubation centres throughout the country which will be complemented by eight provincial integrated youth agri-business centres.”
Dr Masuka told the youth that vast opportunities in the country lie in the agriculture sector.
“Land is the biggest opportunity that Zimbabwe has. Youth incubation centres will consist of two youths centres in each ward and one provincial centre. 500 hectares will be set aside in each province and 20 percent of land redistribution is going to the youth,” he said.
ZINWA board chair Engineer Bongile Ndiweni said the project will unlock opportunities for those living in rural areas.
“We have successfully completed the rehabilitation process for the people in Rushinga and Chimhanda who can now start seeing the positive changes in their water supply. This is part of the thrust by ZIMWA to help improve water availability in the small towns, growth points, and rural service centres through the rehabilitation of existing waterworks and water supply stations in the drive to vision 2030.
“The rehabilitation of these water supply stations are anticipated to help in increasing water production capacity to match the increasing demand for water in a cost-effective manner.
“The growth of the population for rural services, growth points, and small towns have created huge water supply and service delivery gaps which this rehabilitation is expected to address.”
Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Senator Monica Mavhunga said the Chimhanda water supply rehabilitation is a huge relief to the Rushinga district.
“Over the years the district endured critical water challenges. Rushinga is a very dry district and the water supply will propel the expansion of Rushinga Growth point turning it into an economic hub,” she said.
Rushinga legislator, Tendai Nyabani, said the rehabilitation of Chimhanda water supply has delivered the district from drinking unsafe water from shallow pits along river banks.
Online Reporter