Story by Providence Maraneli
THE Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (RIDA) has significantly expanded access to safe and reliable water in Matabeleland South Province after sinking and rehabilitating more than 150 boreholes during 2025, marking a major boost to government-led inclusive development efforts in historically marginalised communities.
As the year draws to a close, the province is recording tangible progress under state-supported infrastructure programmes, with water provision emerging as one of the most impactful interventions aimed at improving livelihoods, public health and climate resilience.
RIDA’s work has focused on both new borehole drilling and the rehabilitation of existing water points, ensuring consistent access to potable water for rural households across the province.
Highlighting the agency’s achievements, RIDA Chief Director for Support Services, Mr Owden Nhimura, said the water projects were part of a broader infrastructure development drive aligned with national priorities.
“To highlight a few of RIDA’s achievements in Matabeleland South, there has been the completion of Halisupi piped drift in Gwanda and the Gonde-Matiwaza piped drift in Matobo. We have also done regravelling 10 kilometers of Lututmba-Tongwe-Bulawayo Mainroad in Beitbridge, Mawabeni-Kumbudzi-Dula in Esigodini, and Fila-Mbondo-Ayoka in Insiza.
“There was a construction of Fakanye Dam in Mangwe, over 100 borehole rehabilitations, drillings, and constructions of Piped Water Schemes in the entire province. In Ntunungwe, Bulilima, RIDA spearheaded the Presidential Solarisation Programme, and it was a success with the help of other stakeholders and ministries. These efforts have directly contributed to NDS1’s completion,” Mr Nhimura said.
Beyond water infrastructure, Matabeleland South has also emerged as a testing ground for flagship development initiatives, including the establishment of the country’s first village business unit and the first drought mitigation centre, aimed at strengthening resilience to climate change and economic shocks.
Minister of State for Matabeleland South Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Honourable Albert Nguluvhe, said the province had benefited immensely from RIDA’s interventions.
“As Matabeleland South, we acknowledge the impact RIDA has had in the province, and, as 2025 comes to an end, we want to acknowledge the good work that it did in the provision of clean water to the communities and infrastructure development. We want to encourage other government departments to have highly impactful projects like RIDA,” he said.
As the nation transitions into 2026, marking the beginning of NDS2, the implementation of critical projects like solar-powered boreholes and dam construction may catapult the province into an agro-driven economy.
