adminMichael Magoronga in KWEKWE
Zibagwe Rural District Council (ZRDC) has set aside $30 000 for the rehabilitation of boreholes to solve acute water shortages in Zibagwe communal areas.
In an interview recently, ZRDC chief executive officer Mr Farayi Machaya said although the local authority had not bought a rig yet, it had since set aside funds to rehabilitate the existing boreholes.
“While we wait for the purchase of a drilling rig that we intend to use in sinking more boreholes, we will rehabilitate the ones that are there so that we address the current water problem in Zibagwe,” he said.
“So far, we have purchased the necessary equipment like leather cups and valves that are needed to refurbish the available boreholes in Zhombe, Silobela and Colombiana.”
Mr Machaya said once a drill rig was available, the local authority would embark on a borehole drilling exercise to improve water availability at schools, churches, clinics and in the community.
“Besides schools, clinics and churches, we are also targeting sinking boreholes at dip tanks and chiefs’ homesteads, and by end of 2018, we hope we will have improved the water supply in our district,” Mr Machaya said.
He said they had also partnered a non-governmental organisation, Germany Agro-Action, to construct wells to cater for more than 42 homesteads that were recently affected by hailstorms in Silobela and Zhombe.
“In this project, we have partnered a non-governmental organisation, Germany Agro-Action, that is funding the rehabilitation of wells after the hailstorm that destroyed safe water sources and left the community prone to water-borne diseases,” he said.
Online Reporter