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Midlands Bureau 

OVER 600 villages across the country’s eight rural provinces have benefitted from the ongoing Presidential Rural Development Programme (PRDP)  being implemented through the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) and other Government agencies.

Under the PRD, Zinwa aims to  drill and equip 35 000 boreholes in the country’s eight rural provinces by the year 2025.

This will translate to a borehole for each of the 35 000 villages in the country.

In a statement, Zinwa corporate, communications and marketing manager Mrs Marjorie Munyonga said: “As of March 9, 2023, a total of 622 boreholes had been drilled under the programme as the borehole drilling, which had been slowed down by the rains, gathers pace.”

Of these 622 boreholes, Mrs Munyonga said, 68 were drilled in Manicaland, 90 in Mashonaland Central, 70 in Mashonaland East, 95 in Mashonaland West and 126 in Masvingo Province.

“A total of 56 boreholes was drilled in Matabeleland North while Matabeleland South had 59 boreholes drilled.

“In the Midlands Province, 58 boreholes were drilled under the programme,” she said.

Mrs Munyonga said the boreholes will provide water for the villages’ drinking needs, establishment of nutrition gardens, orchards, water for dip tanks and poultry projects.

“In the implementation of the Presidential Rural Development Programme, Zinwa is working with other Government agencies that include the ARDA, Agritex, Department of Fisheries and the Department o