Over 200 boreholes have so far been drilled across the country as part of measures by the government to make water accessible to citizens at a time when the globe is battling Covid-19.
Access to safe, clean and running water is key in the fight against the pandemic, which has infected over 7, 000 and claimed over 200 Zimbabweans since the first case was detected in March.
Addressing senators in Parliament last Thursday Lands, Agriculture, Water and Rural Resettlement Deputy minister, Douglas Karoro, said boreholes drilled to date stood at 224 against the target of 394.
“The total number of new drilled boreholes during the Covid-19 stands at 224 boreholes out of a target of 394 boreholes,” said Karoro.
“The reported numbers of water points drying up are increasing leading to the demand in new boreholes. The increased demand of boreholes calls for the need to strengthen the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) through the allocation of requisite financial resources including acquisition of advanced rigs with capabilities for both air and mud drilling as the water table had greatly receded.”
He said the Treasury had disbursed ZWL$20 million to the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education for the drilling of 80 boreholes in the most urgently needed schools in order to assist with their reopening.
“ZINWA and (District Development Fund (DDF) are leading the drilling efforts by the government with ZINWA covering three provinces and DDF the rest,” he explained. “Deployment has been made this week (last week) and the intention is to complete by end of November, 2020. Other interventions for Covid-19; so far 40 piped water schemes were rehabilitated by the government during the Covid-19 period across the eight rural provinces.”
Karoro added that the country had entered the most precarious phase regarding water situation following two years of successive droughts.
“While we continue the hard work to improve the water supply, we look forward to a predictable better rain season; we must continue to use available water sparingly and collaboratively, we will win.”
