Staff Reporter

Westbury villagers in Muzarabani South have applauded Government for initiating a piped water scheme in the resettlement area, which has transformed their lives.

“Clean water supply is improving in Muzarabani South with piped water schemes being set up in areas that had limited access to boreholes, we want to thank our Government and our President Emmerson Mnangagwa for the initiative. We were walking several kilometres daily to access clean water and its now a thing of the past.

“As women of Westbury village, we are happy with this borehole drilled for us. Even the water we are drinking is now safe, through this borehole we have escaped from the jaws of a lot of water borne diseases,’” said Mbuya Stella Maruta.

“We used to share the same unprotected water sources with goats, cows, pigs and donkeys which was not good for our health, but it’s now history,” said Taurai Muzengeza.

Muzarabani South Zanu-PF legislator Honourable Tapera Size said the borehole sinking, being done in conjunction with the Turkish Diyanet Foundation, is in response to the shortage of clean water sources and demands of the growing population.

“The boreholes are solar-driven and have taps such that people don’t have to use manual labour to pump water. One was installed at St. Alberts and the other one at Gatu, but besides that, we are lucky because we have partners who come and help us,” he said.

Three hundred households are benefitting from the Westbury scheme and at least 15 more boreholes are to be sunk by year end under various programmes.