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Tafadzwa Ndlovu Herald Reporter
Water supply at Chikurubi Prison complex has improved significantly following the completion of a three-year borehole drilling and rehabilitation project implemented by the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Head of ICRC in Zimbabwe Mr Thomas Merkelbach said the completion of the project has helped restore vital facilities such as water and sanitation for more than 10 000 people — prison staff and inmates at the prison complex.

“Upgrading critical infrastructure in prisons such as the water supply system at Chikurubi Prison Complex is one of our main priorities,” he said during the tour of the water rehabilitation project.

“We began working with the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services in 2009. The rehabilitation of water infrastructure will provide ZPCS with a strong foundation to continue to provide water and other basic human rights to the inmates.”

Before the intervention by the ICRC, the prison complex experienced serious water shortages for a decade after the Zimbabwe National Water Authority cut supplies to the prison over a $2 million water bill.

The ICRC drilled three boreholes, build a pumping station and storage tank with a capacity to hold 10 000 litres.

Taps and pipes connecting to the large water tank were also repaired bringing relief to people at Chikurubi Prison.

Speaking at the same event, ZPCS Deputy Commissioner General Moses Chihobvu hailed the ICRC saying the support was a huge relief to the prison service which was struggling to improve access to water and sanitation at its prisons dotted around the country.

“The increasing population in Harare has to a great extent brought with it inadequate provision of general service delivery hence assistance rendered towards the completion of this project came at an opportune moment as it saw the alleviation of challenges that we were facing,” he said.