DRILLING of boreholes under the presidential borehole drilling scheme has commenced in some parts of Binga South where villagers are facing water challenges after their water sources dried up due to a prolonged dry spell.
Matabeleland North Provincial Affairs minister Richard Moyo said drilling rigs were already on the ground.
“We engaged the Zimbabwe National Water Authority and the drilling of boreholes has since started,” Moyo said.
“The government has also decided that the boreholes be powered by solar.”
He said the government had disbursed a number of solar system kits.
“The government had also pledged 7 000 solar system kits but I am not sure how many will be distributed to Binga district.”
Binga faces water challenges despite being situated on the banks of the giant Zambezi River, the fourth longest river in Africa,
In February, Binga South Member of Parliament Fanuel Cumanzala revealed that villagers in his constituency are walking long distances in search of water.
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Cumanzala said water challenges in Binga would not be resolved through drilling of boreholes only as he called on the government to build dams as a lasting solution.
According to the MP, wards 4, 12 and 25 were the hardest hit by water challenges.
A villager from Lubimbi, Pangani Lubimbi, said villagers were being exposed to attacks by wildlife animals as they searched for water several kilometres away from their homes.
Lubimbi said water shortages had also led to some young girls being sexually abused, while searching for water.
