Fungayi Munyoro-Chingaira
CHIPINGE TIMES REPORTER

CHIPINGE-Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (RIDA) Chipinge water engineer Collen Kazembe has said that 65 boreholes have been drilled in the district under the Presidential rural development programme.
He told Chipinge Times that RIDA formerly District Development Fund (DDF) is targeting to drill 100 boreholes in Chipinge by the end of the year. A borehole should be drilled in every ward, he said.

“As RIDA we had a target to drill 100 boreholes under the Presidential rural development programme this year. To achieve this RIDA is also partnering other development partners in making sure that every village has access to water under the water and sanitation programme.
“Of the 65 boreholes drilled, seven solar powered boreholes are being used to irrigate community gardens to improve nutrition,” he said.
Kazembe added that access to water has increased to 1 268 points in the district.

“The total number of water points is now 1 268 and those which are currently functional are 1 198. Some 70 boreholes are being rehabilitated. Of this number there are 113 piped water schemes while five boreholes are gravity fed.
“We are facing transport challenges due to shortage of vehicles to execute our duties. Currently there are no standby vehicles to finish the work we started. There are some wards where pipes were eroded by salty water and these areas need to be rehabilitated,” he added.