Blessing Nduku
Gweru Urban constituency has finally received its long-awaited Community Development Fund (CDF) allocation for the current parliamentary term, with authorities confirming that the US$50,000 fund will be channeled towards addressing the area’s protracted water crisis.
Constituency MP Josiah Makombe said the CDF committee had agreed to prioritize water provision after years of intermittent and erratic supplies left several neighborhoods struggling.
As a result, five wards 1, 3, 4, 5 and 18 have been earmarked for the installation of solar-powered boreholes.
“When we met the CDF committee, we agreed to start with water provision. We have decided to drill solarized boreholes in the five targeted wards,” Makombe said.
He added that suppliers were already lined up, with work expected to begin once the money is cleared for use.
“I am sure in a week’s time when the money is available the committees will meet to chart the way forward. We hope that before year end, or early next year, all five wards will have running borehole water.”
Makombe noted, however, that the real value of the allocation had been weakened by exchange rate distortions.
Although the fund was announced as US$50,000, it was disbursed as Zig 1.3 million at the prevailing bank rate, and suppliers typically inflate Zig quotations reducing the effective purchasing power.
Despite this, he expressed confidence that the borehole project would still be delivered.
He also revealed that Senga would receive an additional water tank and accessories to replace infrastructure damaged at an existing borehole site.
“For years we have lived with the stress of unreliable water from the taps, sometimes going for days or even weeks without a single drop. We have spent so much money buying water from vendors, and it has not always been clean or safe. Now, seeing this project finally coming to our area gives us hope.”
“It shows that someone is listening to our struggles. We are truly grateful because this borehole will change daily life for families here our children can go to school clean, our homes can run normally, and we will not live in fear of water shortages every week,” a Senga resident said.
Gweru Urban was among the last constituencies to receive its CDF tranche and now awaits the next disbursement, expected around April next year.
“Since we were last in this cycle, we will likely receive first in the next one,” Makombe said.
Meanwhile, Gweru City Council has approached the constituency seeking support to erect a palisade fence at Mtapa Vegetable Market.
Makombe said the CDF committee is still considering the request, balancing it against other planned projects such as halls and school blocks.
He emphasized that his preference is to focus on complete, fully deliverable projects rather than initiatives that risk being abandoned or altered by future MPs.
Despite funding pressures, Makombe said he remained optimistic that the CDF would help bring meaningful improvements to communities where service delivery has long been constrained.
