By Jonathan Mbiriyamveka
The Coca-Cola system in Zimbabwe, DanChurchAid and the City of Bulawayo on Thursday launched the drilling of six boreholes at Emakhandeni worth USD50 000 funded by The Coca-Cola Foundation.
The water and sanitation project that will provide water to over 25,000 people will be also be equipped with solar powered water kiosks.
The drilling of six boreholes at Emakhandeni worth USD50 000 funded by The Coca-Cola Foundation starts.
The Coca-Cola Foundation, the philanthropic arm of The Coca-Cola Company, awarded US$50,000 to DanChurchAid Zimbabwe to implement the much-needed water and sanitation project to provide clean and safe water to the urban poor in selected high-density suburbs of Bulawayo, which will also mitigate the rising COVID-19 cases.
The Bulawayo City Council identified and availed the locations in the areas with most need. Bulawayo has perennial water shortages and outbreaks of diarrhea are common in the community as a result of using contaminated and unclean water.
“Coca-Cola and its bottling partners Schweppes and Delta are happy to preside over this groundbreaking event as we believe that the project will help to improve the living conditions of the Bulawayo community on the one hand and carry on the well documented traditional friendship between the Coca-Cola System and Bulawayo people on the other,” said Milidzani Ncube, CocaCola Zimbabwe Country Manager.
“There is a saying in that, ‘when drinking water, never forget the one who dug the well’. Our connection with the Zimbabwean people has always been good and is here to stay,” Ncube added.
The partners are proud to be responding to this water crisis with the implementation of this project that will enable people to access much needed safe and clean water daily and are collaborating closely to have it completed in record time.
Lack of access to safe water and sanitation services has direct health implications.
Globally, many children die from diarrhea every year. Most of these deaths can be prevented through access to safe drinking water, adequate sanitation, and good hygiene.
The project which is scheduled for completion before June 2021 will be the second within a year after Schweppes Zimbabwe, a manufacturer and distributor of non-carbonated still beverages under licence from The Coca-Cola Company in partnership with DanChurchAid Zimbabwe provided 2,181 families with clean water in Bulawayo as part of their COVID-19 humanitarian support.
In appreciation of the funding, DanChurchAid Country Director, Mads Schack Lindegard lauded The Coca-Cola Foundation for bringing the project to where it is needed the most. He noted the impact of water projects in such communities and emphasized: “With partners like The CocaCola Foundation and City of Bulawayo, we are changing lives and supporting sustainable community initiatives.”
Mayor of Bulawayo, Councilor Solomon Mguni welcomed the project which will assist Bulawayo City Council to the extent that it is likely to lift the water shedding programme earlier than scheduled owing to the anticipated improved supply throughout the year.
The water and sanitation project for the urban poor in Bulawayo is focused on addressing the problem of inadequate water and poor sanitation in low-income urban communities to contribute towards a lasting solution.
Through partnerships with service providers including water utilities, local authorities like Bulawayo City Council and the communities these efforts will strengthen the capacity of service providers to deliver sustainable city-wide water and sanitation services, promote good hygiene and raise the standards of living.
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