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Nduduzo Tshuma, Political Editor
THE government will drill 20 boreholes to be spread evenly across the 10 wards of Tsholotsho North to alleviate acute water shortages in the area that have seen villagers travelling long distances in search of the precious liquid.
Addressing a Zanu-PF campaign feedback meeting in Tsholotsho yesterday, Water, Environment and Climate Minister Cde Saviour Kasukuwere said 15 boreholes will be sunk in the area in addition to the five that the Zimbabwe National Water Authority was presently drilling on site.
Cde Kasukuwere ordered that the drilling team presently sinking a borehole at Phondo Line, which has two boreholes drilled in 1937 and 1956, to remain on site until the 20 boreholes are sunk.
He was responding to requests by the Minister of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Professor Jonathan Moyo who had pleaded with the minister to add at least 15 boreholes to the approved five in priority areas to ease the burden of travelling long distances on the villagers.
Prof Moyo, the Zanu-PF candidate for the Tsholotsho North constituency in the June 10 by-elections, said interactions with the people during the campaign revealed that the people were faced with two major problems of water and human-animal conflict.
“It’s amazing you know, we hear it every time. It’s not new that in Tsholotsho we’ve a water problem, everybody who lives here or knows about this place will tell you water is a challenge but this time around it’s particularly made worse by the fact that this is a drought year and the water table is also very low, traditionally so,” said Prof Moyo in the meeting.
“We’ve been getting submissions from the communities especially from women who share with us harrowing stories of long distances they’ve to travel because there would be no water point where they live.”
Prof Moyo said some travel quite long distances and queue for the water, resulting in most men complaining that their wives are sleeping at the water points.
He said Cde Kasukuwere had, however, responded through Zinwa that earmarked five critical boreholes in three wards namely Ward 9 with two, Ward 2 with two and Ward 21 with one.
“But there had been a request which prioritised 43 boreholes as a priority, the need is much more than that but there was some feedback that 43 was a very high number given the time, that in the fullness of time they will be attended to,” said Prof Moyo.
“Within that 43, 20 were prioritised. Out of that 20 Zinwa has selected these five and we’re happy that the Zinwa team is here. They’re here working on the ground. But there are these 15 Cde Minister that we would really plead with you and your good offices that they’re attended to. They cover the rest of the Wards that we didn’t mention. We’ve shared this information with your office and we hope that we would get a good response.”
After the meeting, a visit was made to Phondo Line to witness the drilling of the boreholes and there, Cde Kasukuwere directed the Zinwa team to drill 20 more boreholes that would be spread at an average of two per ward.
An elated Headman Phondo told the ministers that, “there are two boreholes in the area. The first was drilled in 1937 and the second in 1956. In 1956 there were only 15 homesteads in the area but now there are 95. This is the third borehole and we’re so happy with the development. The people won’t have to travel long distances in search of water.”
During the feedback meeting, Prof Moyo also shared with Cde Kasukuwere the threat posed by elephants to the personal and food security of the people in the area that shares a border with the Hwange National Park. “These elephants are posing a security threat to human life and you’ve been saying Cde Minister through your National Parks (and Wildlife Management Authority) that the park has become overpopulated. The one thing we can tell you as witnesses for your message that perhaps you need to do something substantive and positive about our elephants, we can tell you they’re too many,” said Prof Moyo.
“There’s now an ecological imbalance between wildlife and human life and we need to find ways, working with your efforts which we know you’re doing to attend to this problem but the communities here are really concerned about this.
“Secondly the elephants have destroyed whatever has been left with some chance in the fields. It has been destroyed. It’s unfortunate that the destruction is happening in a drought year. We know that government is fully seized with the issue of the consequences of the drought, we know that and we appreciate that but in Tsholotsho, we’ve a particular need within that whole scheme because of this background.”
Cde Kasukuwere said he had spoken at length with Prof Moyo who was presenting to him various problems facing the area, including water and animals, adding that the country needed such leaders who stand for their people.
“We’ll be going to one of the sites where they’re digging. When we see those boreholes, I’ll add more on the site. Isn’t you said you wanted 15 more, we will talk when we’re there. If you speak nicely there we’ll add more,” chuckled Cde Kasukuwere.
“We’ll make sure that the machine remains. I think it’s time we looked after our people in this part of the country. Let’s dig water for them, it doesn’t matter if there is a shortage in other areas. We can’t give five only.
“Some of the stories that we’ve seen and heard, the Professor tweeted the other day, harrowing experiences, women sleeping at water points, who wants their wife to sleep at a water point here. We mustn’t allow water to be an excuse to other things that can happen so let’s remove water as an issue and have a Tsholotsho that’s developed.”
Cde Kasukuwere acknowledged the problem brought to the communities by animals but said strategies would be employed to make sure that wildlife resources benefit the people.
“Animals mustn’t become a danger or a menace to society. Actually we must now be using these resources, harvesting them to ensure that the services that are required, water and so forth, are issues attended to as a result of our resources,” he said.
“My commitment on the issue of boreholes is because I know you’re suffering with the issue of animals, I’ll make a plan about the animals and add boreholes. Don’t get angry, let the elephants multiply, let’s have a plan of selling them and let’s ensure that we use them for development.”
“We’ve supported, I’m sure the Prof has told you, with some of our animals the construction of the Tsholotsho soccer stadium.”
Cde Kasukuwere said the government was also reorganising Campfire to make sure that communities benefit from wildlife resources.
Cde Kasukuwere said he would engage a number of ministers including Primary and Secondary Education Lazarus Dokora for infrastructural development in schools in the area with an emphasis on science subjects.
Cde Kasukuwere commended the Tsholotsho North campaign team for their work on the ground, saying it was easy to smell victory with the coordination the team was working with.
“There’s no doubt that Tsholotsho North will be firmly back in the Zanu-PF stable come June 11. We’re happy because you’re organised. There are some provinces that never win anything but have the loudest noises. Anybody in there just talks but they’ve never won anything,” said Cde Kasukuwere.
He said the party would not allow opportunists to soil the name of the party.
“Corrupt characters that come and end up spoiling the image of the party. Zanu-PF now has to be cleaned. We have to clean this party and make sure that the men and women of this party are of impeccable standing,” said Cde Kasukuwere.
“It’s no longer going to be a den of thieves who hide, after stealing you now want to buy a Zanu-PF card and find somewhere to hide. If you are a thief, out of the door, we want people with dignity in the party not criminals who after stealing from the public, you want to come and hide your loot in Zanu-PF. Sanitise your crime, you want to smear us with your dirt, stay out and leave the party alone.”
Cde Kasukuwere said Zanu-PF was regaining all seats lost to the MDCs as the party concentrates on economically empowering the masses.
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