Partnerships for cooperation ….. Council – Civic Society partnerships for provision of safe water and sanitation coverage in the city

IN the endless search for more efficient and effective methods of delivering social services, 2020 has seen increasing interests of partnerships for the purpose of expanding safe drinking water and sanitation coverage as well as improving the health of communities.

The Government, DFID (donor), UNICEF, Christian Care Zimbabwe (implementing partner) in conjunction with DWSSC and Masvingo City Council are in the process of erecting solar systems and 6 (10 000 liter) tanks in Ward 3 and 4 (10 000 liter) tanks in Ward 4’s communal water points (boreholes). The motorized solar water piped scheme is set to ensure availability of water all the time.

This project has seen involvement and participation of the communities which are the beneficiaries. Water point committees were selected and trained to ensure longer term system sustainability.

The City of Masvingo has managed to build linkages with a number of Non-Governmental Organizations in delivering key services to the community. The partnership of City of Masvingo, Dialogue on Shelter Trust and Homeless People’s Federation has also resulted in notable projects which include drilling of 2 boreholes in Vic Range and Runyararo West, 2 (5000 liter) tanks and 8 spaced water taps for Vic Range.

The partnerships are aiming at improving water supply systems mainly in high lying areas of the populous high density suburbs of Masvingo, as short term plans whilst waiting for water augmentation phase 2 to take off in 2021.