The Sunday News
Austin Nyathi Sunday News Correspondent
GWANDA Rural Communities have been urged to empower the girl child by improving access to safe and clean water, a Cabinet Minister has said. Commissioning a science laboratory at Ntepe Secondary School on Thursday, the Minister of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing, Cde Saviour Kasukuwere, said the Community Share Ownership Trust and other stakeholders should drill more boreholes in the district to empower girl child in accessing safe and clean water within reasonable distances.
“I am informed that the Gwanda Community Share Ownership Trust in conjunction with the Gwanda Rural District Council have procured a drilling rig costing $360 000 in a bid to improve access to safe and clean water in the district and throughout Matabeleland South Province.
“I have noted with enthusiasm that the equipment in question has already registered phenomenal progress in terms of drilling boreholes in various parts of districts, we also urge them do drill more boreholes to empower the girl child by shortening the distances covered in accessing safe and clean water,” said Minister Kasukuwere.
Minister Kasukuwere said the commissioning of the science laboratory was an economic empowerment drive targeted at the previously marginalised indigenous people.
“You will agree with me that today’s event is a proud celebration of the country’ s economic empowerment drive targeted at the previously marginalised indigenous people of this country. I am happy that the milestone achievements recorded by our Trust are a result of smart partnerships between yourselves and stakeholders including the private sector and this is the way to go if the country is to archive the socio economic transformation as espoused in the Zim Asset economic blueprint,” he said.
The Gwanda Community Share Ownership Trust in collaboration with Gwanda Rural District Council, has made huge strides in empowering the local communities in the district through provision of health, education and water and sanitation infrastructure, in the manner of clinics, classroom blocks, boreholes, among other projects.
In his acceptance speech, the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education Dr Lazazrus Dokora expressed his sincere gratitude to the Gwanda Community Trust.
