Zinwa gets borehole drilling equipment Dr Anxious Masuka

Kudzaishe Muhamba Herald Reporter

The Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) has received eight more borehole drilling rigs, 20 tractors and excavators to support communities across the country as the Government’s order of 50 borehole rigs continues being delivered.

The equipment, which was handed over by Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Resettlement Minister Dr Anxious Masuka, is the latest batch from the 50 borehole drilling rigs procured by Government for the implementation of the Presidential Rural Development Programme.

Speaking at the handover ceremony this week, Minister Masuka said the Government aims to drill 35 000 boreholes in 35 000 villages across the country.

“The boreholes will provide water for the establishment by communities, of nutrition gardens, fishery projects, orchards and water for dip tanks and communal drinking needs,” said Minister Masuka.

“As we saw in Makorokoro Village, Mangwe District, Matabeleland South Province, these gardens are both a source of nutrition and cash.

“On average, each of the 153 households has been receiving an equivalent of US$45 monthly in addition to being paid National Employment Council rates for their labour,” he said.

Minister Masuka said the handover of drilling rigs was relevant and timely as it paves the way for accelerating the implementation of the Presidential Rural Development Programme.

“The Presidential Rural Development Programme is set to radically transform the lives of millions of Zimbabweans. As the President, His Excellency Dr E.D. Mnangagwa often says Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo. Under the Presidential Rural Development Programme, agricultural development will cause rural industrialisation.

“Rural industrialisation will facilitate rural development. Rural development will accelerate the attainment of Vision 2030,” he said.

Minister Masuka said 11 million Zimbabweans in rural areas will have access to clean potable water as a result of the boreholes. The dignity of women and girls will be restored as they will not have to walk long distances to fetch water.”

He commended the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development for the timely financing of the programme and called for the release the last tranche for the 40 outstanding rigs so that they could be procured expeditiously.

“As will be known by now, of the 50 rigs under this programme, 10 rigs will be allocated to DDF to drill 9 600 boreholes at the 9 600 schools in the country,.

Commenting on the handed over equipment, Zinwa board chair Engineer Bongile Ndiweni said the Zimbabwe National Water Authority fully appreciated the task at hand and how the Presidential Rural Development was expected to trigger economic activity in the eight rural provinces.

The development will in turn spawn multiple opportunities that should lead to economic prosperity and the subsequent transformation of livelihoods, said Eng Ndiweni. The equipment would address some of the logistical and transport problems faced by Zinwa.

“These challenges have been retarding and limiting our efforts to timely respond to breakdowns and other activities that require the ferrying of materials and equipment. “The equipment shall be equitably distributed across the catchments and the 20 service centres to help ramp up our service delivery there,” said Eng Ndiweni.

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