Communities living along the Bulawayo–Victoria Falls Road are set to gain access to new water sources after contractors rehabilitating the highway committed to leaving boreholes behind for public use.
Construction firms working on the major road project say severe water shortages in the arid region have prompted them to drill boreholes not only to support construction work but also to serve nearby communities as part of their corporate social responsibility.
The commitment was revealed during a tour of the project by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, which oversees the rehabilitation of the road being undertaken by eight contractors.
Masimba Holdings Group chief executive Fungai Matawa said his company had already drilled boreholes in some sections and planned to drill more as construction progresses.
“So far we have done two. It will depend on the sections. As we move along, we look for water sources, drill, and make sure that we leave them for the communities,” he said.
Mr Matawa said schools were being prioritised where possible to ensure sustainable access to water for children and surrounding households.
“If we are able to find water around a school, that is our first priority, so that when we leave there is water,” he said.
He acknowledged that water scarcity remained one of the biggest challenges in the area, with contractors sometimes forced to travel long distances to access water.
“Water is a challenge in this area, so we have to move about 10km to find water sources. That is why we say communities must benefit from the water that we drill,” he added.
Another contractor, Syvern Investments, said water shortages had also affected construction timelines but confirmed it would leave boreholes for community use.
Project manager Arnold Mutungwazi said the company was drilling boreholes as part of mitigation measures.
“This area is very arid, so we face serious water challenges, but we are now drilling boreholes which we are going to leave for the local community to use,” he said.
A third contractor, Tensor, also confirmed its commitment to leaving boreholes behind once construction is completed.
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