Muzarabani villages get open defecation-free status

MINISTER of State for Mashonaland Central Provincial Affairs Advocate Martin Dinha has commended non-governmental organisations for complimenting Government efforts after four villages in Muzarabani attained Open Defecation Free (ODF) status last Friday under a $4 million rural Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) programme being funded by the United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID).

The villages are Murwira, Muganhi, Chuhuri, Mutasa A and Mutasa B.

Speaking at Kapatamukombe Primary School in Muzarabani, Adv Dinha said non-governmental organisation are not enemies but cooperating partners that help Government.

“NGOs are not enemies but they are cooperating partners who compliment Government’s efforts. Their work is important and Government cannot do all the work alone,” said Adv Dinha

“I am impressed that every household here now has a toilet, which is user friendly to the disabled and those lacking means are using poles and mortar. It is a clean environment. Sanitation action groups must be the focus now to ensure sustainability of the programme when the implementers leave.”

Adv Dinha donated five boreholes to the community.

Dr Stanley Tapesana, who was standing in for the provincial medical director said the ODF status is a milestone for the health fraternity, which will save Government money on treatment of disease outbreaks.

“This means there are areas where you do not find human waste because it being disposed safely in Blair toilets. There is a reduction in the transmission of diseases for the general public.

“This is a big achievement, which will serve Government a lot of money. We look forward to other wards attaining this status,” he said.

Chairman of the project, provincial coordinator for District Devel- opment Fund (DDF) Mr Kenny Clemence Mtombo said the programme is targeting hard-to-reach communities, those affected by floods and drought and communities at risk of diarrhoeal diseases and cholera.

“The programme is ending in October this year and was extended to Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East and Manicaland, with a budget of $4 million per each province.

“Here the programme targets four districts, which are Mt Darwin, Mbire, Rushinga and Muzarabani to ensure that they have access to safe sanitation facilities and knowledge on safe hygiene practices,” said Mr Mtombo.

“By the end of the programme, 70 communities will be declared ODF, about 500 000 people should have access to clean water, 1 867 broken down boreholes will be repaired and rehabilitated and four community managed piped water schemes will be rehabilitated.”

The programme is managed by UNICEF and other partners are World Vision, Red Cross.