China hands over 300 boreholes, reaching 75,000 people in Zimbabwe

China hands over 300 boreholes, reaching 75,000 people in Zimbabwe

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Zimbabwe has received 300 boreholes under a China-aided drilling programme, with the handover expected to bring clean water access to more than 75,000 people, officials said.

The boreholes were handed over on Friday, according to information from the handover ceremony held in Manicaland Province. The project, launched in 2024, covered 300 villages across four provinces.

Speaking at the ceremony, China’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Zhou Ding, said the boreholes are intended to supply safe water for household use and farming, while also helping to reduce waterborne diseases and strengthen agricultural resilience.

Zhou said improved water access was already supporting activities such as crop farming, livestock rearing, poultry raising and vegetable cultivation, which he said had improved livelihoods in participating communities.

He also said the project would have social benefits by easing the burden of fetching water on women and children, allowing more time for schooling and other work.

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Zhou added that, over the past decade, China has drilled more than 1,300 boreholes in Zimbabwe, providing clean water and irrigation to about half a million people.

Zimbabwe’s Minister of Local Government and Public Works, Daniel Garwe, thanked the Chinese government for the support, saying the new boreholes are expected to improve water, sanitation and hygiene in communities affected by disasters.

Garwe described the programme as a milestone and said it supports Zimbabwe’s National Development Strategy and Vision 2030, the government’s plan to move the country towards upper-middle-income status.

While the handover took place in Manicaland, the project’s scope across four provinces is likely to be closely watched in other regions where communities regularly face water shortages, especially during drought periods.

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