Melinda Kusemachibi
Boreholes that were sunk in the run-up to the March 26 by-elections in Masvingo urban and were left incomplete are lying idle despite residents’ scrambling for water at the few available bush pumps in the city due to perennial water woes.
The boreholes were drilled using devolution funds notably in wards 3, 4, 5 and 7 of Masvingo urban constituency but they are now lying idle with residents in all of these wards struggling to get alternative sources of water.
Contacted for comment, Masvingo Secretary for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Dr Jefta Sakupwanya said the borehole drilling was initiated by the president so he is the one who has the final say on how things should go.
“Presidential borehole drilling scheme is the president’s programme which is going to benefit people in and around Masvingo province mostly those in rural setup,” said Dr Sakupwanya.
Quizzed on why the boreholes in the urban setup have not been completed after tank stands were erected at respective centers, Dr Sakupwanya asked why reporters would have more interest in issues that have to do with urban dwellers at the expense of the rural folk.
“Why do you want to focus much on urban setup instead of rural set up? There is too much wide coverage in urban than rural set up,” said Dr Sakupwanya.
A number of projects that were initiated during election campaigns seem to have been abandoned following the defeat of ZANU PF candidates.
Recently the city went for days without adequate water, with the Masvingo City Council being unable to sustain adequate supplies to the ever growing populace.
The period preceding the March 26 local authority and House of Assembly by-elections saw the ruling Zanu PF resorting to the use of devolution funds to drill boreholes in Masvingo urban, Chivi South and Mwenezi and questions were raised on why the boreholes which are said to be part of developmental projects were only drilled in areas with elections.
Zanu PF has also been accused of abusing state resources like social welfare food aid and presidential input schemes towards furthering political interests during election periods.
