The ManicaPost
Chipo Katsidzira Post Correspondent
CHIPINGE Town Council (CTC) has started drilling eight solar boreholes covering all its wards as part of interventions to ease power-induced water shortages.
Town secretary Dr Susan Dube said the process started early this month, adding that other projects in progress include the construction of ablution facilities destroyed by Cyclone Idai.
“We are using devolution funds to drill solar boreholes in all the eight wards to avert water challenges. We received the stipulated five percent Inter-Governmental Transfers Fund, which is intended to fund projects under the devolution programme between June and August 2019. UNICEF has also injected some funds to augment the borehole drilling programmes and upon receiving the disbursement, we prioritised to the solar boreholes to alleviate the erratic water shortages in the town,” she said.
Dr Dube said the council has so far procured 10 sets of solar panels and water pumps.
“We have procured everything that is needed in the drilling of the boreholes and we hope by mid-January 2020 we will be done with the installation of the boreholes,” she added.
The acute water shortages have forced residents to fetch domestic water from unprotected sources, putting their lives at risk of contracting water-borne diseases. It is hoped that the borehole water, once confirmed safe, will go a long way in easing severe water challenges being occasioned by incessant power cuts.
“We hope the availability of water will improve with the installation of the new solar boreholes. The erratic water supply had resulted in residents doing nocturnal errands to secure water around the town, and at times, from unprotected sources.
“Some wards would go for months without water, forcing the residents to draw the precious liquid from unprotected sources, putting them at risk of water-borne diseases. This is the reason why we have resorted to drilling the boreholes in the town. At least we will be able to provide water once a week to every household,” said Dr Dube.
She said the council has also installed 30 solar streets lights and resurfaced some of the roads which were destroyed by Cyclone Idai.
