For American donor, Michael Hazelton, a clear, lucid and compelling vision to provide alternative safe water sources in Bulawayo by the Lot Water Project drove him and his family to be one of the big backers of the organisation.
Initially formed to drill just a single borehole following a waterborne disease crisis that killed at least 13 people, the Lot Water Project has installed 13 solar-powered boreholes in the Luveve area since its formation in 2020.
Through the backing of donors such as Hazelton, the organisation is providing a critical resource for the community at a time when the City is struggling with water provision due to the low rainfall experienced these past two seasons.
Hazelton, who is in the country with his family, said they are honoured to be part of a solution that is impacting directly on people’s everyday lives.
He said water is a basic need that people should readily have access to.
“I bought into (Lot Water Project founder) Innocent’s (Hadebe) vision because it impacts directly on the basic needs of the community.
“Water availability will ensure base communities can use to grow as they won’t waste most of their time seeking the precious liquid,” said Hazelton who travelled with his wife Michelle and daughter, Madison.
The trio officially handed over a solar-powered borehole, built last year by the Lot Water Project through their funding, to Luveve Primary School on Monday and also witnessed the drilling of two more boreholes at Mafakela Primary School and Inyanda High School.
Emakhandeni Luveve Member of Parliament, Descent Bajila said the addition of more boreholes within the constituency comes at a critical time when Bulawayo is facing an acute water crisis that has seen residents accessing tap water only 48 hours a week.
“The drilling of the boreholes could not have come at an opportune time when Luveve, Bulawayo and generally Zimbabwe is facing water challenges that continue to impact negatively on the quality of life of residents.
“The city’s water challenges are well documented and while there are other solutions in the pipeline such as the proposed Glassblock Dam, the boreholes are an immediate solution people can readily access,” he said.
While a majority of the solar-powered boreholes are built in schools, communities have ready access to the water sources.
Luveve Primary School Development Committee chairperson, Beauty Banda said the borehole is critical in providing water to the school, which due to its higher elevation at times stays for weeks without receiving council water.
Other schools that have had boreholes erected within their premises include Matshayiskhova, Imbizo, Fusi, Inzwananzi and Cowdray Park High.
Council reports indicate two more dams will be decommissioned before the end of the exacerbation of an already precarious situation.
