The government of Zimbabwe has released US $46m to
the District Development Fund(DDF) for the construction of 600 boreholes in the
country’s eight rural provinces. The funds will also cater for the
rehabilitation of hand-pumps to restore their efficiency and productivity.
According to DDF director of water supplies and
maintenance, Edwin Toriro, the projects which are being jointly undertaken with
the Ministry of Health and Child Care, will be biased towards drought-prone
areas. “Each province will have a total of 60 boreholes and they will assist
locals on the water crisis. We are doing this as per Presidential Declaration
in terms of the District Development Fund Act,” he said.
“We are also going to drill boreholes close to
irrigation schemes. With community support under public works programme,
hand-pump rehabilitation is being applied as well in all provinces. Moreso, an
exercise of borehole flushing is being carried out. This exercise involves
flushing out dirt and debris using compressed air. The blowing out will restore
the productivity of the borehole. More projects are on their way. Funds have
also been allocated for setting up irrigations schemes,” he added.
More than 100 boreholes will be drilled in areas
such as Muzarabani, Mangwe, Chiredzi, Kanyemba, Mukumbura, Uzumba Maramba
Pfungwe, Tsholotsho and Binga, which experience water problems seasonally. The
scope of the new reinvigorated projects also includes fixing old boreholes and
assisting irrigation schemes, public hospitals, Government buildings, as well
as urban areas. Upon completion, the project will provide clean water for
consumption and irrigation.
DDF programmes undertaken so far this year includes rehabilitation of infrastructure damaged by Cyclone Idai. The works were undertaken in Masvingo, Midlands, Mashonaland East, Matabeleland South and North and Masvingo provinces.https://constructionreviewonline.com/2019/09/zimbabwe-releases-us-46m-for-construction-of-600-boreholes/
