Communities along Bulawayo–Victoria Falls road to benefit from boreholes

Communities along the Bulawayo–Victoria Falls Road are set to benefit from new water sources after contractors rehabilitating the highway pledged to leave boreholes for public use.

Construction firms working on the major road project said that severe water shortages in the arid region had prompted them to drill boreholes not only to support their construction activities but also to serve nearby communities as part of their corporate social responsibility.

The commitment was highlighted during a tour of the project by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, which oversees the road rehabilitation being undertaken by eight contractors.

Masimba Holdings Group chief executive Fungai Matawa said his company had already drilled boreholes in some sections and planned to continue as construction progressed.

"So far we have done two. It will depend on the sections. As we move along, we look for water sources, drill, and make sure that we leave them for the communities," he said.

Mr Matawa added that schools were being prioritised where possible to ensure sustainable access to water for children and surrounding households.

"If we are able to find water around a school, that is our first priority, so that when we leave there is water," he said.

He acknowledged that water scarcity remains one of the biggest challenges in the area, forcing contractors to travel long distances—sometimes up to 10km—to access water.

"Water is a challenge in this area, so we have to move about 10km to find water sources. That is why we say communities must benefit from the water that we drill," he said.

Another contractor, Syvern Investments, confirmed that water shortages had affected construction timelines but reiterated its commitment to leaving boreholes for community use. Project manager Arnold Mutungwazi said the boreholes were part of mitigation measures to address the region's arid conditions.

"This area is very arid, so we face serious water challenges, but we are now drilling boreholes which we are going to leave for the local community to use," Mutungwazi said.

A third contractor, Tensor, also affirmed its commitment to leaving boreholes behind once construction is completed, ensuring that local communities have access to much-needed water resources.