Harare, (New Ziana) – In excess of 100 000 rural
households across the country now have access to clean and safe water
since the launch of the Presidential Rural Development Programme in
2021, a national water regulatory body has said.

The households are beneficiaries of communal water points established as
part of village business units and water reticulation systems put in
place by the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) under the
Presidential Rural Development Programme with each point serving an
average of between 60 and 100 households.

Under the Presidential Rural Development Programme, the Government
intends to ensure access to safe potable water by rural communities as a
resilience mechanism in the face of climate change.

ZINWA said as of January 28, a total of 1 846 communal water points had
been successfully established.

“The 1 846 communal water points were established, either as part of
village business units (VBUs) or as stand-alone solar powered water
points,” said ZINWA head of corporate communities and marketing,
Marjorie Munyonga in an statement.

The community water points were set up in Midlands, Harare, Mashonaland
Central, Mashonaland West, Matabeleland South, Matabeleland North,
Manicaland and Bulawayo provinces.

“The Presidential Rural Development programme has also improved lives
for women and girls, who are largely responsible for fetching water in
rural communities, exposing them to sexual and gender-based violence,”
said Munyonga.

ZINWA is expected to drill a borehole at each of the country’s 9 600
schools as part of the programme to improve sanitation and hygiene in
facilities.

New Ziana