Elison Basopo, a lecturer, is a resident of Dangamvura high density suburb in Mutare, a city in eastern Zimbabwe's Manicaland province. A senior citizen, he has lived there for 37 years. For the first 15 years, he and his family enjoyed access to a daily water supply. This changed in 2000, as rapid population growth in Dangamvura and too little investment in water infrastructure contributed to the water problems. A fix was identified--the upgrade of a 10km water pipeline to carry more water--but funding shortfalls prevent it being carried out.
"Our water supply became erratic from around 2000. We would receive running water once in three days at 12 midnight and for only three hours. We would wake up to fill all available containers within those few hours. The water pressure was low," Basopo recalls.
In response, members of the community began to rely on a borehole about a kilometre away for water. However, the borehole also presented challenges. It was taken over by unscrupulous 'water touts' who loaded trucks with water to sell to desperate residents. For laundry and toilet use, women fetched water from a nearby stream contaminated with sewage spills. This increased the incidence of water borne diseases such as cholera.
Basopo says, "It was chaotic. I would wake up as early as 1:00 am to beat the queues and avoid the touts. There would be a line of buckets almost 500 metres long at the borehole even at 6 am. I even stopped our garden projects due to lack of water."
The pipeline was completed in 2021, thanks to the Zimbabwe Multi-Donor Trust Fund's provision of $1 million under its Urgent Water Supply and Sanitation Rehabilitation Project. ZimFund is a a $145 million multi-donor trust fund founded in 2010 and managed by the African Development Bank. Its donors are Australia, Denmark, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
Part of the 10km Dangamvura water pipeline constructed under ZimFund Water project in Mutare.
Completion of the pipeline has significantly eased the lives of 120 000 residents of Dangamvura, who now have access to daily water. Still, this is not the first time Mutare residents have experienced the benefits of the project. During its first phase, which was completed in 2015, ZimFund financed the construction of a 10-million-litre reservoir which supplies more than 100 000 people daily in Mutare's Hobhouse and Chikanga sections with water.
Basopo says, "In early March 2022, I was filled with joy to see water trickling from our taps. We can now bathe freely, do laundry and can resume gardens. I am now able to fully concentrate on taking care of the family. We will definitely play our part as residents by paying for the water and also use it sparingly."
Wimbai Kanogwere who works as Basopo's helper filling the sink with running water to wash plates.
Contacts: s.mlotshwa@afdb.org
