Zimbabwe: Goromonzi where clean water and drug-free futures shape stronger communities

For many years, communities in Ward 8, Goromonzi District faced a crisis that silently shaped every aspect of daily life: water scarcity. As the Ward 8 Councilor and Chairperson of the Social Services Committee under Goromonzi Rural District Council (RDC), I witnessed the severe impact of broken boreholes, unsafe wells, and long distances to find water. The people most affected were women, girls, schoolchildren, and vulnerable households, who were forced to spend hours each day fetching water from unsafe rivers such as Marasahwahwa and Muronzi. 

This lack of clean water created serious challenges. Women had little time left for work or childcare. Girls missed school, arriving late or skipping lessons entirely. Families were exposed to cholera, typhoid, diarrhea, and other waterborne diseases. Schools like Chogugudza Primary, with an enrolment of over 2,400 learners, struggled to operate with limited water. Hygiene was compromised, and community development was slowed down by an issue that should be a basic right: safe water. 

In addition to this, our youth were battling another silent crisis: drug and substance abuse. With limited opportunities and the stress of living in resource-deprived conditions, many young people turned to drugs. The combined effect of unsafe water and drug abuse created a cycle of vulnerability that threatened Goromonzi’s future 

Before the rehabilitation of boreholes, life in Ward 8 was marked by exhaustion, illness, and frustration. Women walked long distances carrying heavy buckets, sometimes at unsafe hours. Girls were missing classes not because of lack of ambition, but because water collection had become their unpaid daily duty. Clinics frequently recorded cases of waterborne diseases, and livestock often drank from the same contaminated water sources as humans. 

The community felt stuck. Yet despite the challenges, people were willing to participate if solutions were brought closer to them. What we needed was coordination, leadership, and partnerships. The turning point came when Goromonzi RDC, development partners, traditional leaders, and community residents worked together to rehabilitate broken boreholes and drill new wells in underserved villages. What made this initiative unique was its participatory approach. 

 Community members helped identify broken water points, prioritized sites, contributed labor, and established Water Point Committees responsible for ongoing maintenance. The project also contributed to reducing drug use among youth by restoring stability at home, improving school attendance, and promoting stronger community engagement. This transformation did not happen by accident. It followed clear planning, collaboration, and community ownership. 

As Councilor, I mobilized the community and engaged partners such as TZUCHI, LatterDay Saints, and other NGOs. The RDC prioritized water rehabilitation in its service delivery plans, allocating technical staff and resources for borehole repairs and drilling. Traditional leaders and residents worked side by side to ensure transparency in site selection. Youth and women were intentionally included in water committees, strengthening gender equity and inclusive governance. 

Before this intervention, residents waited long hours at crowded water points, fought over access, or fetched water from unsafe streams. Now, with functioning boreholes across villages, the daily rhythm of life has changed. Hygiene has improved, livestock have reliable water sources, and children can focus on education not survival. There is growing interest in adopting solar-powered boreholes, which will provide reliable water while advancing renewable energy and climate adaptation goals. What began as a desperate need has grown into a model for rural governance, gender equity, and sustainable resource management. 

Tonderai Murape, Zimbabwe

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