Staff Reporter

The New Dispensation is committed to accelerate rural development in order to achieve Vision 2030 and will work tirelessly to provide water to communities as solid water infrastructure base lies at the heart of a prosperous nation.

This was said yesterday by the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Dr Anxious Masuka on the occasion of the commissioning of the Chivi water supply rehabilitation works.

“I am pleased to officiate at this occasion marking the successful completion of the Chivi Water Supply Rehabilitation Works. This comes a few months after I commissioned the Chimhanda rehabilitated water works in Rushinga, Mashonaland Central. These projects and many more to be commissioned are a testament to the efforts by the Second Republic to accelerate rural development for the attainment of Vision 2030,”said Minister Masuka.

The Minister added that the rehabilitation of Chivi Water Supply was part of a wider Government programme to help ease water challenges in small towns, growth points and rural service centres. He further said that water was a critical enabler of socio-economic activity and Government strongly believes that a solid water infrastructure base lies at the heart of a prosperous nation.

Minister Masuka further said that this year, Treasury availed ZWL 24 billion for rehabilitation of various water supply stations across the country, construction of new dams, rural development water supply schemes, including borehole drilling. He added that some 16 rural service centres will have their water supply upgraded in 2022 and the major cities of Harare and Bulawayo will also have their water supply augmented significantly.

The Minister further said that ZINWA will ensure that all the 450 irrigation schemes in the country will have portable water for the scheme users. He added that the provision of water in rural areas was in line with the Government’s thrust of inclusive growth and rural transformation.

The commissioned Chivi water supply rehabilitation saw a 25 cubic meter filter tank being constructed and the works included the restoration of the old water treatment plant, installation of new duty and standby pumping units, construction of clear water pumping main and the expansion of the reticulation network. The work also included the construction of a semi-detached house and the fencing of the water treatment plant.