Australian Ambassador officially opens rehabilitated Dombwe Piped Water Scheme in Chegutu

Australian Ambassador officially opens rehabilitated Dombwe Piped Water Scheme in Chegutu

On Friday 14 July, Her Excellency Ambassador Suzanne McCourt visited the Dombwe Piped Water Scheme in Chegutu District. The Scheme benefitted from the rehabilitation of critical infrastructure that had rendered the scheme non-functional since 2000. Australia, through partner Welthungerhilfe (WHH), supported drilling and provision of pumps, pipework, water tanks and water meters. The project assisted Local Authorities to improve systems such as billing, GIS planning, financial management and customer relations, and trained community change agents to promote hygiene and sanitation.

Local MP Hon. Webster Shamu (in dark suit on left) and Chegutu RDC CEO Mr. Dan Zvogbo (in dark Green on right) explaining how the SELF project has helped the Dombwe community with water. Ambassador Suzanne McCourt, Chegutu RDC council Chairman Mr Farai Charakatenda and WASH Champion Mr Rova Kanyemba listen attentively.

In her speech as Guest of Honour at the opening of the Dombwe Piped Water Scheme, Ambassador McCourt commended the efforts by WHH, Chegutu Rural District Council and the community. She noted the efforts by the Council to improve their finance and billing and develop better relationships with residents. “The momentum on the council-citizen interaction should not be lost as open communication and dialogue is required for transparency”, she said.  “It is critical that residents pay for their water, and that water supply is consistent”.  Ambassador McCourt was honoured to meet a long-term resident of Dombwe who said that the town had been waiting for over 30 years for access to water in their homes.

Local councilor Alderman Michael Marecha handing a gift of a goat from the Dombwe community to Ambassador McCourt with the assistance of HelpAge Zimbabwe WASH officer Mr Chrispen Kazuva and Chegutu RDC staff Mr Richard Sibanda.

Australia has supported Welthungerhilfe through the Civil Society WASH Fund since 2013. WHH’s sustainable Services for Everyone beyond the Lifetime of the project at Fair price (SELF) project has worked with 10 Local Authorities in 7 Districts of Mashonaland West Province to provide sustainable water supply and sanitation services, and promote good hygiene practices in the communities of operation.