Zimbabwe: A catchy header that captures the essence of the learning journey, no more than 10 words.

For many years, the people of Ward 8 in Goromonzi District had lived under the heavy shadow of water scarcity. Most of the boreholes which once were reliable lifelines had broken down or were producing unsafe water. Families relied on unprotected sources such as rivers, shallow wells, and seasonal streams. The burden on women and children was immense as they walked long distances every day to fetch water, often before sunrise and long after sunset. School attendance suffered, and waterborne diseases such as cholera and typhoid became recurring threats. This situation and many other challenges led councilor Tonderai Murape to introduce a raft of measures to to mitigate the water challenge. 

“As Councilor, it was heart-breaking to see young girls missing school because their day had to start with a bucket instead of a book,” recalled Councilor Tonderai Murape, the chairperson of the Social Services Committee for Goromonzi rural district council. The councilor realized that handling the issue alone would not work hence his strategic collaboration with other stakeholders like Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (RIDA), private sector and Goromonzi Rural District Council. 

A participatory water supply improvement project aimed at rehabilitating broken boreholes and drilling new ones was initiated in all deserving villages. The project was unique especially on its governance model, with the community playing a central role. Residents identified priority sites, contributed to planning, and established Water Point Committees to manage the facilities.” We wanted the community not only to receive water but to own the water system, ownership is what makes development sustainable.” Councillor Murape emphasized. “ 

Before the intervention, residents fetched water from distant streams such as Marasahwahwa and Muronzi, were more often, queuing for hours or navigating unsafe terrain was the order of the day. The rehabilitation of boreholes and installation of new ones dramatically reshaped daily life. Women and girls previously the most affected experienced the greatest relief. One Jane Kuengwa a local resident had this to say; “We used to leave home before sunrise to fetch water, now the borehole is just a short walk away”. Schools Chogugudza Primary School also experienced improvement were enrolment moved to 2,400 from 2,132 learners and hygiene standards improved.

 The headmaster Mr Jonathan Phiri reported that “Our single borehole was overwhelmed but we are now excited as a school a special thank you to our councilor and other stakeholders” The intervention strengthened social cohesion across the ward were water point committees comprising of men, women, and youth would take roles in the maintenance of boreholes as well as the collection of fees and monitoring the usage. The gender impact has been profound as women now have more time to engage in income generating activities. Community leadership roles have become more inclusive and balanced. 

To safeguard the progress made, each borehole now has an active Water Point Committee responsible for daily monitoring and minor repairs. This enabled Goromonzi RDC to formulate an integrated water infrastructure maintenance into its annual service delivery plan and budget to ensure technical support and routine oversight. The Social Services Committee continues to carry out regular site visits to identify faults early, while RIDA committee coordinates repairs efficiently. 

The Council continues to engage more partners like Latter-Day Saints Charities, and the private sector to scale the model across the district. The future plans include the modernization of manual boreholes into solar-powered water systems which encourages community cost-sharing. The councilor intends to replicate the model to Ward 8 and other district. 

The evidence of positive change is visible and measurable as more public institutions like Chirodzero Clinic and Makumbe Hospital have reported significant declines in waterborne diseases, schools note improved attendance, especially among girls. In addition, women started to report on increased time for farming, vending, and caring for their families. There has been report from villages that are maintaining cleaner and safer surroundings due to improved hygiene practices. The rehabilitated and new boreholes are now supplying clean water across villages through piped water system thereby reducing walking distances and long queues. 

Goromonzi residents continues to express their appreciation and renewed hope as clean water flows non-stop in homes, schools, and public spaces. The water intervention in Ward 8 has reshaped not only access to water but the social fabric of the community. Through participatory governance, strong partnerships, and a commitment to sustainability, Goromonzi RDC has set a powerful example of inclusive and transformative development. What began as a crisis has become a story of resilience, empowerment, and lasting change. 

By Tonderai Murape, Zimbabwe