Water is life

Charmaine Chigudugudze

AN old Shona adage says “Chakanaka chakanaka, mukaka haurungwi munyu.”

This proverb is meaningful, especially when we look at how the water crisis in Glen View has been addressed through the Presidential Borehole Drilling Programme.

This is an initiative that deserves to be applauded.

I felt proud and honoured to be among multitudes of people in Glen View 3 that witnessed President Mnangagwa officially commissioning solar-powered boreholes in the area on May 28.

Glen View, like many areas in Harare, has in the past been prone to water-borne diseases such as typhoid and cholera due to water woes.

As a girl, I have keenly felt the impact of the crisis. It had not only become tedious and routine for me to join queues, but I also had to walk long distances for the precious liquid. In some instances, we had to part with lots of hard-earned cash for us to be able to get potable water.

That is not all! I was often left with little or no time to study as I spent most of my spare time in long and winding queues.

However, the new solar-powered boreholes have changed everything for the better. Access to safe water is critical and I am happy that I am no longer burdened by the water crisis. I can now fully concentrate more on my studies as water is now readily available.

I now have free time on my hands to take part in other crucial activities.

Charmaine Chigudugudze is a Form One learner at Ocean Waves High School in Harare.

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