Germany and Australia have jointly injected $36 million towards rehabilitation of water and sanitation facilities for six local authorities over a three-year period.
The programme will benefit 1,6 million people in Bulawayo, Kadoma, Norton, Chinhoyi, Gweru and Kariba.
Australian Ambassador to Zimbabwe Matthew Neuhaus said in a statement on Tuesday his country remained committed to improving the lives of ordinary Zimbabweans.
“Australia’s contribution to the programme is a clear demonstration of our commitment to help improve the lives of Zimbabweans through better access to clean water and sanitation services,” he said.
“Without the restoration and strong recovery in the water sector, Zimbabwe will continue to face the danger of further cholera outbreaks with more deaths and illnesses and negative impacts on livelihoods.”
German Ambassador to Zimbabwe Hans Gnodtke also stressed the importance of having safe water and sanitary facilities describing them as basic human rights.
“Everybody knows how important it is to have access to safe water and sanitary facilities. With poor access to these essential services, life is not only quite miserable, but your health and even your life is at risk.
Germany is committed to provide clean water which is considered to be a basic human right. Therefore, the programme is addressing one of the most burning issues of Zimbabwe’s urban population, especially of the women and the less well off, who do not have the means to protect themselves against a breakdown of public water supply and sanitation systems,” Gnodtke said.
