The government of Zimbabwe has commissioned new water pumps in Midlands province. Permanent Secretary in the ministry of Local Government Public Works and National Housing George Magosvonge, performed the ceremony and said that the water pumps aims to curb water crisis in the province.
Construction of the new pumps, situated at Amapongokwe dam in Gweru came after t had emerged that the water levels at Gwenhoro dam could not supply the midlands capital beyond September.
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Zimbabwe’s acute water shortage
This prompted the government to release US $450 000 for low lift raw water pumps and another US $7m towards acquisition of 3 high lift pumps that will enhance conveyance of water from the treatment plant to the distribution tanks in Gweru resulting in an increase of daily water supplies from 25 to around 40 mega-litres.
Zimbabwe’s acute water shortage is a result of a particularly bad drought this year, a symptom of climate change. Poor water management has wasted much of the water that remains.
To curb the situation the government is also drilling 600 boreholes nationwide. 60 boreholes will be drilled in each province and will be biased towards drought-prone areas. Four boreholes per parliamentary constituency are also being repaired using funds provided by the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement under the Water Fund.
More than 100 boreholes will be drilled in areas such as Muzarabani, Mangwe, Chiredzi, Kanyemba, Mukumbura, Uzumba Maramba Pfungwe, Tsholotsho and Binga, which experience water problems seasonally. Upon completion, the project will provide clean water for consumption and irrigation.
