By Tatiana Mhararira
United States Agency for International Development (USAID) partnered with Mwenezi Development Training Centre (MDTC) to support vulnerable households in Chiredzi through the El Nino-induced Drought Response and Adaptation for Rural Communities Project worth more than US$960 000.
The project will benefit 8 600 individuals and around 33 700 livestock living in wards 10, 13, 14 and 15 of Chiredzi district.
The project seeks to enhance access to water, sanitation and hygiene services for members of the community. The project will also improve livestock productivity, accessing markets and increasing incomes to mitigate the challenges faces by these El Nino induced drought.
Chiredzi district is located in Lowveld which lies in natural region 5 was negatively affected by El Nino induced drought which reduced crop yields and this drought caused the villagers in the drought stricken area to suffer from hunger.
The MDTC project’s main agenda includes rehabilitating 15 boreholes with nine of them being converted to solar powered allowing women and girls to get access to clean water and travel short distances to fetch water.
In a press release released by MDTC it said there will be a training session for community members on water point management and promotion of good hygiene.
“To support long term sustainability, the project will provide training for water point user committees (WPUCs) and community members who manage the use of the pump, on the operation and maintenance of water points.
“The project will promote good sanitation and hygiene among 750 individuals, establish 15 community health clubs and promote latrine construction at household levels to reduce open defecation.
Mwenezi Development Training Centre Executive Director, Promise Makoni said MDTC is proud to be first partners to receive donations from USAID.
“MDTC is proud to be the first local non-governmental organisation to receive successive awards from USAID.MDTC is grateful for the continued support and partnership with USAID, which has enabled it to improve the livelihoods of thousands of vulnerable families in Chiredzi, ”said Makoni.
The Lowveld is popularly known for producing small grains such as sorghum and millet and the area receives rainfall below 650mm annually, and 2024 harvesting season has led the region to get low yields with the drought being the catalysts of hunger.
