Story by Tafara Chikumira
THE government has moved in to alleviate the perennial water challenges in Gweru’s Mkoba North suburb, with the establishment of business units transforming the lives of residents.
The business units, rolled out in Mkoba 4 and 20, are providing much-needed relief to households that have endured unreliable water supplies for years.
Residents have welcomed the move, expressing gratitude for what they describe as a long-overdue intervention.
“We are grateful to our Honourable MP and our President for initiating this progress. We can now set up some small gardens and be assured of a constant water supply. Water was a problem here,” a resident said.
“We have been remembered here in Mkoba. It is a fact that we rarely get city council water this side, hence this initiative has helped us to survive. Water is life and we have been deprived of the precious liquid for a long time. As such, we want to thank those who came up with the programme,” another stated.
“When President Emmerson Mnangagwa speaks of sound leadership, this is what he will be referring to. The people were suffering, but today we have been remembered. Today, Mkoba can smile knowing for sure that we have water in our vicinity. We were made to buy expensive water as a result of the lack of the precious liquid here. What this means is that our lives have been made easier,” a resident added.
The government assured residents that more programmes are being lined up in line with the inclusive development approach.
Mkoba North Constituency legislator, Honourable Edgar Ncube emphasised that the intervention is in line with President Mnangagwa’s development mantra of leaving no one and no place behind.
“I realised that people in my constituency have been suffering for a long time due to a lack of reliable water. I then engaged the Honourable Minister Ncube and some of our friends to say no place and no one is supposed to remain behind with regard to development as per the President’s mantra. As such, we have managed to deliver on our constituency’s needs,” Legislator for Mkoba North Constituency, Honourable Edgar Ncube said.
Midlands Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Honourable Owen Ncube, also highlighted the broader policy alignment of the initiative.
“This event showcases the Second Republic’s people-centric development programmes and projects which align with SDG pillar number six on clean water and sanitation and NDS health and wellbeing, especially addressing access to water, sanitation and a healthy environment as we journey towards an upper-middle income society earlier than 2030.”
The Business Units established in the urban set-up are servicing at least one thousand households, giving hope to residents who are at the receiving end of the opposition-led council’s ineptitude.
