Solar borehole transforms Manoti Police Station

GOVERNMENT has commissioned a solar-powered borehole at Manoti Police Station in Gweru North District, which will see police officers getting an improved water supply for domestic use, as well as the establishment of a Village Business Unit.

Under the Second Republic led by President Mnangagwa, the Government is implementing a massive rural transformation through the Presidential Borehole Drilling Scheme, targeting 35 000 villages.

Through VBUs, communities are expected to benefit from nutrition gardens, fish ponds, and economic hubs that turn rural communities into commercial agricultural hubs, thereby fostering empowerment and sustainable development in line with Vision 2030.

Minister of State for Midlands Provincial Affairs and Devolution. Cde Owen Ncube commissioned the US$4 000 solar-powered borehole at Manoti Police Station on Thursday.

Speaking at the handover ceremony, the minister praised partners who supported the initiative, saying it complemented the Government’s efforts to improve service delivery under President Mnangagwa’s leadership.

He said the commissioning of the solarised borehole is a testament to the Government’s commitment to leaving no one and no place behind.

“I am filled with great pride and joy as I address you today on this momentous occasion of the commissioning and handover of a US$4 000 solarised borehole to Manoti Police Station, here in Gokwe South District, guided by the New Dispensation’s mantra: ‘Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo/Ilizwe lakhiwa ngabanikazi balo’.

“I applaud partners who supported my initiative as the local MP to modernise water reticulation at this station, thus, complementing the Second Republic under the listening and visionary stewardship of President Mnangagwa’s strategic and inclusive development approach that improves livelihoods of underserved communities, public institutions included, by bolstering service delivery in line with the mantra of leaving no one and no place behind,” the minister said.

Min Ncube also commended President Mnangagwa for spearheading support systems to enhance the operations of the Zimbabwe Republic Police, including drilling boreholes in police stations and providing service vehicles.

“In this regard, I commend President Mnangagwa for spearheading support systems that enhance the smooth operations of the ZRP, which include drilling of boreholes in camps and rural police stations to enhance water and sanitation, training and development to capacitate members of the police in line with tenets of Vision 2030 and provision of service vehicles,” he said.

“To this end, I am informed that Manoti Police Station has benefitted two service vehicles, which help in preventing crime and fighting the drug and substance abuse scourge that threatens our social fabric and now economic development aspirations.”

Minister Ncube urged local authorities to accelerate rehabilitation of storm-damaged infrastructure, including schools, clinics, roads, and bridges.

“I urge all local authorities to accelerate rehabilitation of storm-damaged infrastructure that includes schools, clinics, roads and bridges,” he said.

Since the inception of the Second Republic in 2017, milestone achievements have been made in the water and sanitation sector.

These include piped water schemes, solarised boreholes, mini solar grids, bio-gas digesters, mobile solar units, dams and village business units being accelerated under the NDS2 Infrastructure Development and Housing Pillar.

This targets, among others, interventions in energy and rural water supply as enablers for inclusive economic growth and structural transformation.

“Allow me to extend my profound gratitude to the patriotic Midlands Community in general and Gokwe South in particular for the overwhelming support exhibited during the Constitutional Amendment Bill Number 3 consultation meetings,” said Min Ncube.

“Despite efforts by our detractors to discredit the process, people turned out in their numbers and unanimously endorsed the Bill, supported by a peaceful environment sustained by our security sector.”

The event was attended by local officials and community members, who hailed the development as a significant boost to the area’s infrastructure.