Urbanites benefiting from the Presidential Borehole Scheme will now be connected directly to the boreholes so the water comes through their taps, as President Mnangagwa’s initiative continues to deliver potable water across the country.
It was all smiles in Chitungwiza Unit E yesterday, which became the latest area to benefit from the borehole scheme.
Speaking during commissioning of the solar powered borehole in Chitungwiza, businessman Mr Tempter Tungwarara said the President has directed that the boreholes be directly connected to people’s homes.
Mr Tungwarara said although initially, they had shifted the focus of drilling boreholes to rural areas, they have resumed the programme in urban areas.
“We promised last week that by Saturday we would have drilled a borehole in Chitungwiza, but two days before the deadline the President’s promise has been fulfilled.
“We connected water to households as a pilot project in Glen View and the President officiated so we wanted to do a similar project here in Chitungwiza as directed,” he said.
A Unit E resident Mrs Annastancia Munemo said for several years, access to clean water was a major challenge.
“We are more than delighted by the drilling of the boreholes as clean water was always a big problem here. Sometimes we would spend between two to three months without water.
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| Presidential Scheme to Connect Boreholes Directly to Homes in Chitungwiza |
“So I have been spending US$30 on buying water every month from water barons, yet I was also paying council rates for the same service. I am very glad that the President has done this for us,” she said.
Another resident, Portia Munaku said they were more than grateful that water will be connected to their houses.
“We thought that we would access the tap water at the borehole only, however we were more than glad to hear that the President has actually directed that each family should access it at their household,” she said.
A beneficiary, Mr Albert Nyoka took a swipe at the opposition for having neglected the area for too long. “They are just amassing wealth by purchasing vehicles,” he said.
Another beneficiary, Mr Tichaona Kamusenga said drilling of the solar powered borehole would also help to reduce crime.
“This is noble gesture. Imagine some women would wake up as early as 4am to go and fetch water exposing them to the risks of getting raped or being robbed.”
Mr Tungwarara also told Zanu-PF supporters in Seke Units H and in Zengeza West Constituency that water from the Presidential Borehole Scheme was for free and no one must pay for it since it is a Presidential gesture.
This comes amid revelations that some people were now selling the water.
Boreholes drilled in Chitungwiza under the Presidential Borehole drilling scheme are expected to serve more than 100 000 households.
The scheme is in line with President Mnangagwa’s vision of providing clean water to all citizens, especially in urban areas which have been run down by opposition parties since 2000.
People in the town of more than one million inhabitants, vowed to vote for President Mnangagwa and Zanu PF in the upcoming harmonised elections.
“We are focused on implementing this project and we are not going to listen to people who want to divert the focus of this project for it to fail. We are here to deliver,” said Mr Tungwarara.
Herald Reporters
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