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Thupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
World Vision Zimbabwe has rolled out a US$208 000 water and sanitation programme that will improve access of potable water in 32 schools in Beitbridge District, an official has said.
The organisation’s Area Development Manager for Limpopo that covers Beitbridge, Mrs Pretty Dube, said the programme was being funded by Golf Fore Africa through World Vision USA.
She said they were implementing the initiative in two phases.
“The first cycle of the projects is from 1 April 2019 to 30 September 2019 and the second cycle will run between 1 October 2019 and 30 September 2020,” she said.
“A total of US$104 000 will be used for each phase. The project is complementing the Girl Talk initiative through the provision of hardware targeting the benefiting schools, including persons with disability.”
She said the organisation intended to increase access to sustainable safe water supply for poor and vulnerable children.
The whole idea, she said, was to have most education facilities accessing basic drinking water and girl-friendly latrines that are convenient for children with disabilities in schools.
“We are going to drill new boreholes and rehabilitate others which will also be mechanised using solar-powered technology,” she said.
Mrs Dube said though they had identified the 32 benefiting schools, they were still assessing those which would need borehole rehabilitation or drilling.
A total of US$40 000, she said, would be used for borehole drilling, while US$120 000 has been committed to solar mechanised systems.
“Another US$32 000 will be used to construct school latrines and a total of US$16 000 will go towards hygiene promotions,” she said.
Mrs Dube said among other things they would also construct hand washing stations and outside tanks for the girl-friendly latrines.
She said they would also train water points committees to maintain the new and old water and sanitation infrastructure.
“Part of the programme will include supporting health clubs in schools for improved hygiene behaviour,” she said.
Mrs Dube said they were also running a different water and sanitation project in eight schools across Beitbridge.
Last year, the organisation drilled boreholes in three schools. This this year they were targeting five schools.
“In 2018, we worked on water and sanitation facilities at Vhuthulula, Malusungane and Malikuwa schools”, she said.
“This year our focus is on Dumba, Mtetengwe, Madzivhe, Mapai and Chamnanga respectively.”
Beitbridge has been hit by drought and in some cases villagers are scrambling for water with domestic livestock and wild animals.
There are 1 350 registered boreholes in the district and 32 small dams, most of which are not functioning at full capacity due to siltation.
Online Reporter