Govt drills 300 boreholes in Midlands to transform rural lives
By Dumisani Ndlovu
In a significant development, the Midlands province has made significant strides in improving access to clean water, thanks to the Presidential borehole drilling programme. The initiative, launched under the Devolution Funds, has resulted in the drilling of 300 wet boreholes across the province, with a focus on Mberengwa district, one of the lowest ranked in terms of water and sanitation coverage.
Speaking at the launch of the Mberengwa Rural District Council borehole drilling programme, Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Owen Ncube, emphasized the Second Republic’s commitment to transforming the livelihoods of rural communities through people-centered programs. He highlighted the importance of access to clean water, which contributes significantly to the general health and wellbeing of the people.
The Minister also mentioned other notable development projects in the province, including the establishment of village business units, road construction, and the upcoming commissioning of a mini-hospital. Additionally, he reassured citizens that the government is committed to providing drought relief to food-insecure households, warning against any abuse of the program.
This development is a testament to the government’s efforts to bring services closer to the people, in line with the devolution and decentralization agenda.
“Midlands Province is a proud beneficiary of the Second Re- public’s visible transformational programmes which include the Presidential borehole drilling programme which has so far achieved 300 wet boreholes across the province,” said Minister Ncube.
He said Mberengwa District is amongst the lowest ranked districts in Midlands in terms of water and sanitation coverage.
“This rig should therefore ensure access to portable water by the Mberengwa communities. Under the Second Republic focus is on bringing services closer to the people as guided by the devolution and decentralisation agenda. “… access to clean water re- mains top government’s priority as it contributes to the general health and wellbeing of the people. A healthy population contributes significantly to production and productivity,” said Minister Ncube.