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Herald Reporter

ChinaAid is progressing well with its borehole drilling programme, which seeks to provide 1 000 boreholes to Zimbabwe’s driest areas for communities to get clean water.

The programme, which started in 2012, is being implemented by China’s aid agency, ChinaAid, together with its technical partner, the Chinese state-linked entity China Jiangxi International Cooperation (CJIC).

In Zimbabwe, CJIC constructed Marovanyati Dam in Buhera, Manicaland Province, which was recently commissioned by President Mnangagwa, while another project that is underway is Bindura Dam in Mashonaland Central, which is 10 percent in progress and is expected to be completed in 18 months.

When President Mnangagwa visited China and met his counterpart, President Xi Jinping in 2018, the ChinaAid 500 boreholes project was one of the three national projects identified for bilateral cooperation.

The boreholes project is being implemented in a phased approach with three phases having been completed to date, while the fourth phase is underway and expected to be completes in September next year.

In a statement yesterday, CJIC project manager Mr Duan Chuanxiu said the project has had great impact in communities that do not have access to clean water, whose need has been heightened by the Covid-19 pandemic that requires people to be clean.

“Water is very important especially for the local communities in far flung areas where people have no ready access water. When we move around we see villagers fetching from rivers, often sharing with animals,” he said.

“Animals will be drinking upstream and people drinking water downstream. Some have no water in their villages or even ward and have to travel up to 10 to 20 kilometres, using scotch carts and donkeys.

“All adults spend time looking for water. If they can get water readily, they can spend time doing other jobs like farming. So, it is important for people to have clean water that comes from the ground, and with no pollution, for both their use and animals.”

Despite the determination to provide clean water, CJIC has encountered some challenges regarding culture and sometimes disagreements on where to site the boreholes.

However, agreement is always achieved through consultations.

Funding for the project is provided by the Chinese government through ChinaAid.

The Government of Zimbabwe, through the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement, provides the costing.

The District Development Fund and local government authorities identify and implement the project at local level through collaboration with local communities and leadership.

Under Phase 1, which ran from 2012 to 2013, 64 boreholes were installed in Tsholotsho, Nkayi, Hwange, Umzingwane and Matobo districts.

Phase 2 which ran from 2014 to 2015, saw 136 boreholes being sunk in Mashonaland Central (69) and Mashonaland East (67), with Mazowe, Rushinga Mt Darwin, Bindura, Mbire Guruve; Chikomba, Hwedza, Mudzi, Mutoko, Seke, Goromonzi, Murehwa, Uzumba Maramba Pfungwe and Marondera districts benefiting. Under Phase 3, which ran from 2015 to 2017, 300 boreholes were sunk in Manicaland (145), Mashonaland East (83) and Mashonaland Central (72).

Phase 4, which begun in March last year and set to be completed September 2021, comprises of 500 boreholes to be installed in Manicaland, Masvingo and Matabeleland South.

Manicaland’s allocation is 200 boreholes and have been completed, Masvingo Province 150 boreholes that are almost complete, Matabeleland South Province gets 150 boreholes, and focus is now there.

The boreholes have capacity of  0,7 cubic litre per discharge.  ChinaAid boreholes are sited where they extract water from underground rock fissures, not from the surface.

Said Mr Duan: “Getting water from the rock fissures allows for longevity of the resource because if we get it from the surface, it dries off during dry seasons.

“Our boreholes last up to 20 years with minimal maintenance from our engineers. It is up to communities to protect and use responsibly.”