WATER challenges facing Communities in the semi-arid Chivi area of Masvingo province are set to be a thing of the past within the next two months with work on the resuscitation of the Chombwe piped water scheme nearing completion.
Over 15 000 households in the semi-arid Chivi area were affected when the Chombwe piped water scheme stopped operating in 2008 due to obsolete equipment.
This has seen villagers failing to access portable water thereby relying on boreholes and wells for supplies.
Speaking to ZBC News Chivi District Administrator Mr Innocent Matingwina said last year government made a commitment to resuscitate water works paving the way for the injection of 4 million Zimbabwe Dollars in devolution funds into the project.
“ We invested about 4 million into this project to buy the major equipment that was needed then the major works. The two pumps have been erected and the transformer is done. We are now waiting for minor works to be done, the ZINWA team is already on the ground checking pipes along the way,” he said.
Chivi Rural Council Chairperson Councillor Godfrey Mukungunugwa said since the piped water scheme ceased, villagers, have been struggling with water given the semi-arid nature of the district.
“ The people who came up with the piped water scheme had noticed the nature of this place. Even though we have been trying to drill boreholes the place is basically dry,” he noted.
Headman Madhlangove, urged the officials working on the piped water scheme to ensure villagers have access to water in the shortest time possible.
“If I could, I would actually also help with the work here, because the people really need water, “said Madhlangove.
The water will be pumped from the Tokwe weir, built on the Tugwane river to outlying areas in Chivi District.
