Zimbabwean communities in Nyanga District will be able to construct facilities to dramatically improve their health and sanitation thanks to assistance from the United States Agency for International Development and USAID’s Community Water Supply, Sanitation, Hygiene, and Natural Resources Management or C-WASH program.
On June 9th, at the Ruwangwe District Development Fund Rest Camp, Robert Chawatama, the Provincial Water and Sanitation Sub-Committee Chairperson for Manicaland, officially handed over to the people of Nyanga District $40,000 in materials to construct or rehabilitate 83 boreholes, 45 pumps to extract water, 105 drinking troughs for animals, and 102 latrines.
Chairperson Chawatama also presided over the graduation of 18 community latrine and water pan builders and 16 village pump mechanics, who had been trained by Development Aid from People to People Zimbabwe with funding from USAID. With guidance from the District Development Fund, these builders and mechanics will assist the communities in constructing and repairing their water infrastructure and ensure long-term sustainability.
In total, USAID’s C-WASH activities will provide safe and clean water to 2,400 households and six schools in the district.
The communities of Nyanga North have long grappled with access to safe and clean water due to frequent breakdowns of boreholes. Some families travel for 10 kilometers to access safe water while others sleep queuing for water at the boreholes. Many boreholes in the district are being chained and locked as communities try to safeguard limited water resources. Others have introduced strict water rationing with households only allowed to collect two 20 liter buckets per day regardless of the household size.
“USAID is proud to support Nyanga District to improve access to safe, potable water,” said USAID Zimbabwe Acting Mission Director Bruce Abrams. “With this newly acquired technical expertise and building materials, these communities are now able to protect themselves against water-borne diseases.”
