THE Zimbabwe Red Cross Society (ZRCS) has constructed a 16km-long water pipeline to draw water from the Zambezi River to Siyachilaba area, Binga, in Matabeleland North province to address the area’s perennial water shortages.
By NQOBANI NDLOVU
The programme, which also included construction of 634 toilets and drilling of 41 boreholes, was carried out under a project known as Building Resilient African Communities (BRACES).
ZRCS president Edison Mlambo, in a speech read on his behalf by his deputy Reuben Mnkandla, said the project was implemented over a five-year programme.
“As we continue reaching out to disadvantaged communities across Zimbabwe, we are happy to be handing over projects which we implemented over the past five years with financial support from our partners, America Red Cross,” he said.
“Safe water provision remains a critical component towards the health and welfare of local communities and we are happy to have partnered the local community and the government of Zimbabwe, through the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa), in providing potable water for the community,” he said.
Keep Reading
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Matabeleland North Provincial Affairs minister Cain Mathema admitted that Binga faced waterborne disease problems due to lack of access to safe drinking water, saying he hoped the water project would result in a drop in diarrhoeal diseases.
“While water challenges are common place in Binga, this particular project, which was part of the five- year America Red Cross funded BRACES programme, was done for communities, who, for a long time, had no safe drinking coverage,” he said.
“This project has brought some positives in the local health and hygiene practices and communities that for a long time bore the brunt of diarrheal diseases are now better off thanks to this intervention.”