A NEW piped water scheme has brought relief to over 1 300 households here, ending decades of water scarcity and freeing women from long, dangerous treks to fetch unsafe water.
The scheme, launched in June by the government in collaboration with Welthungerhilfe (WHH), provides a reliable and clean water source to a community that previously relied on distant, sandy riverbeds.
The intervention not only solves a critical water shortage, but also addresses the risks faced by women who used perilous pathways, often before dawn, in search of water.
During a tour of the project on Tuesday, Nyasha Kudenga, a WASH [water, sanitation and hygiene] officer for WHH, explained the technology behind the system.
“We used a sand abstraction system as a way of purifying the water, which is further treated by an inline chlorinator,” Kudenga said.
He added that the scheme also supported a village business unit, where 30 households were engaged in farming projects enabled by the available water.
The community’s water woes were compounded by the poor quality of the little water available.
Nelson Chimweta, a veterinary officer for ward 3, noted that local water was notoriously salty.
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“The borehole was later sited along the Mukumbura River as the water here was very salty and had to be sourced from deep underground, which was a challenge,” Chimweta explained.
WHH field manager Tamuka Betserai said the organisation was determined to provide a sustainable solution after witnessing the community’s plight.
“It would have been difficult for us to leave the community without this much-needed intervention,” Betserai indicated.
For the residents, the transformation is profound.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Tarisai Chisodza described the scheme as a timely solution to their escalating woes.
“The most vulnerable in our society were greatly disadvantaged by the unavailability of water and the scheme has made their life easier,” she said.
“We are now able to do gardening throughout the year, which we could not do previously as we relied on rainwater.”
Gomo ward 3 councillor Quiet Gutsi underscored the historical significance of the project.
“People in the community would walk very long distances, ranging from 7km to 15km in search of water,” Gutsi said.
“We would like to thank the organisations that joined hands to solve this great challenge in our midst.”
