Gwanda wards get $150k for boreholes

THE Gwanda Community Share Ownership Trust has allocated $150 000 towards the construction of 48 boreholes in all the 24 wards in the district to alleviate water challenges faced by villagers.

The trust’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Coster Nkala, said they had so far managed to drill 20 boreholes.

“As the Gwanda Community Share Ownership Trust we are focusing on drilling boreholes because a number of villagers are facing challenges in accessing water as dams were damaged by rains.

“The project is still ongoing and so far we have drilled 20 boreholes and only 12 are functional because in some areas the water levels are low. We plan to drill 48 boreholes with each ward having two boreholes. We have already purchased the bush pumps and we are left with installation,” he said.

Mr Nkala said the project started in August and they were planning to have finished drilling all the boreholes by December. He said they had purchased a drilling machine which was being used for the project.

He said the community share ownership trust’s main source of income was supposed to be dividends paid by mining companies operating within the district.

Mr Nkala said they were however, facing challenges as only one out of five mining companies operating within the district was paying dividends.

“The concept behind the community share ownership trust is that locals are supposed to benefit from the resources within their areas. As a result 10 percent of what companies make should go back to the community.

“In Gwanda the main natural resource that is being exploited are the minerals and we have five major mining companies operating within the district. However, four of these companies are not remitting anything. We have tried to engage them but they are resisting,” he said.

Mr Nkala said they had decided to embark on a number of income generating projects which could boost revenue such as micro financing.

“We want to start up projects that will act as subsidiaries of the community ownership trust. We have started working on modalities to start these projects. Our mandate is to facilitate community development and funds that will be raised through these projects will help us in fulfilling this role,” he said.

“In the past we have managed to build schools and clinics among other projects. Each year we hold ward consultative meetings where we engage community members on the projects that they need within their areas and we give them feedback on our progress.” — @ DubeMatutu.