Ward 9 Councillor Donaldson Mabuto partnered with the Church of Latter Day Saints in Bulawayo to facilitate the drilling of three boreholes and provide water to Gampu Primary School, Matshobana and Congo residents in Bulawayo.
A fourth borehole at Nkulumane Primary School was drilled with assistance of the Apostolic Faith Mission (AFM) church.
According to the councillor, these boreholes will help reduce demand placed on municipal water and assist the residents including the schools to take up farming related activities.
“Our target is to have six boreholes. So far we are at four, that is Gampu Primary School, Matshobana, Congo and Nkulumane Primary School,” Mabuto told CITE after officially handing some of the boreholes over to residents.
He said the drilling of the three boreholes began in March, stating the projects were “very” critical following the city’s rigorous water shedding exercise imposed by Bulawayo City Council (BCC) due to water.
“Residents have started drawing water and the boreholes are done,” said the councillor who stated that in order for the project to proceed, he consulted with Elder Guhwa of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for assistance.
“Gampu Primary School, Matshobana and Congo are areas that are situated on a high altitude and therefore face serious challenges in accessing water from the city council due to low pressure,” Mabuto said.
“With the gradient and water pressure problems it takes more than 48 hours for Gampu Primary School, Matshobana and Congo residents to get a drop of water especially after water shedding.”
The drilling of the boreholes is therefore mitigation against water shortages in the ward, the councillor added.
“I drafted the proposal and requested BCC to grant authority to drill. My office will continue to engage other partners to partner the Office of the Councillor to assist by drilling more boreholes,” Mabutho said.
