Boreholes for Mhondoro-Mubaira

Mhondoro (New Ziana) -Villagers in Mhondoro-Mubaira In Mashonaland West province, about 110 kilometers south of the capital are breathing a sigh of relief after non-profit organisation Africa Development Mission Trust (ADMT) drilled 63 boreholes in the area to avert water shortages which they had been experiencing due to climate change induced droughts.

Areas which were most affected include Watyoka, Gonza and Goroni.

Due to persistent droughts, most water sources dried up forcing villagers to rely on unprotected sources such as Mupfure and Nyundo rivers.

Some villagers had to walk long distances of about 13 kilometres in search of the precious liquid while others were forced to buy water from suppliers who were capitalizing on the situation to make money.

ADMT community field officer Kennedy Abyuti said through their partnership with local authorities in Mhondoro-Mubaira they had successfully drilled at least 63 boreholes.

He said in some areas they had established nutritional gardens for the communities which were powered by solar systems.

“We are into community development and as such these projects are a response to issues affecting communities due to climate change induced droughts. We are also into leadership training and development as well as church planting. We are responding to the need of the needs of communities,” said Abyuti.

Local legislator Freddy Kapuya confirmed that there had been a water crisis in his constituency due to persistent droughts.

“There are many areas in need of water in my constituency. However, Mapira village was the most affected. For 40 years now, they had no access to clean water and they relied on rivers and open or shallow wells posing a serious health hazard,” he said.

Kapuya expressed gratitude for the support they were receiving from the ADTM, saying “people’s lives have been transformed”.

He appealed to successful people from the area to plough back into their communities and not wait for the government and its development partners.

“Development is a collective effort by all stakeholders. Let`s not just wait for the President, MP, development partners or councillors to initiate development in our areas. We need to compliment their efforts,” he said.

New Ziana