The ManicaPost
Lovemore Kadzura
Rusape Correspondent
THE era of fetching water from unprotected sources has ended to the drought-prone Nzvimbe area of Makoni District following the setting up of a US$50 000 piped water scheme by a development partner working in tandem with the local authority and the community.
The Nzvimbe Piped Water Scheme in Ward 31 in Makoni South has provided a lifeline to more than 1 000 people and will also serve institutions such as a clinic, two schools, 18 churches and the business centre.
Commissioning the project that was funded by Mercy Corps, Makoni South Member of Parliament, Cde Misheck Mataranyika said Government, working with various stakeholders is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that every citizen has access to clean and safe drinking water.
“The scheme was established under the Climate Adaptation Water and Energy Infrastructure Programme (CAWEP). This is a remarkable achievement, especially considering that water is the most basic human need.
‘‘It was funded by UNICEF and implemented by Mercy Corps and Makoni Rural District Council. A total of US$50 000 was invested into this project.
“The project will benefit the Nzvimbe community and surrounding institutions which include a rural health centre, two schools and a business centre,” said Cde Mataranyika.
The scheme has 27 water points and will provide water to a population of 1 280 people around the area. It will also reduce the spread of waterborne diseases such as cholera, diarrhoea and typhoid among others.
“Before the implementation of this project, people used to walk for more than 5km to a water point and the majority of the villagers used to access water from sources which were far away, but now they are just walking around 500 meters to the nearest water point.
“As the country is moving towards the attainment of an upper middle class economy by 2030, Government is moving towards the establishment of solar powered schemes which are cheap and easy to maintain. The Second Republic is working tirelessly to ensure that Sustainable Development Goal Number Six is attained. The Goal ensures availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all,” said Cde Mataranyika.
Village head, Mr John Mungate said the scheme will change lives in the community and will jealously guard it.
“As the local community, we provided all the locally available materials for this project to succeed. We will ensure that we maintain it and protect this infrastructure against vandalism. Beneficiaries of this project will jealously guard it,” said Headman Mungate.
