By Nigel Pfunde
MUTEMA-MUSIKAVANHU — Deputy Minister of Primary and Secondary Education and Member of Parliament for Mutema-Musikavanhu Constituency, Angeline Gata commissioned the Betura solar-powered piped water scheme in Ward 16 on Tuesday, resolving long-standing water supply challenges at Mwacheta Primary School, Mwacheta Secondary School and the surrounding community.
The project was implemented by the Government in partnership with non-governmental organization Welt Hunger Hilfe (WHH), with technical expertise provided by Government engineers. The solar-powered system is expected to improve health and hygiene standards, support school gardens and enable local communities to engage in horticultural projects and livestock rearing.
Addressing residents and community leaders during the commissioning ceremony at Mwacheta Primary School, Gata stated that the initiative directly targets educational performance by reducing time spent searching for water.
“Water is an investment in education. This is not just a borehole or a tank, it is a classroom, it is a textbook, it is a future,” Gata said.
“Where water flows, learning grows. Our learners will now spend less time fetching water and more time in class, and that is how we build a knowledgeable and skilled nation.”
Gata emphasized the necessity of reliable water infrastructure in advancing public health and basic civil standards across rural communities.
“Water is life. Without it, there is no health, no dignity, no development,” Gata said.
“This solar-powered scheme is proof that Government, working with partners like Welt Hunger Hilfe, is committed to ensuring that no community is left behind in the provision of basic services.”
Highlighting the economic impact of the project, Gata said that access to water would support local livelihoods and contribute toward national development goals.
“Water is a barrier to poverty. When a community has reliable water, it can produce food, generate income and build wealth,” Gata said.
“This project is an empowerment tool. It gives our people the power to feed themselves, to sell surplus produce and to send their children to school. It speeds up the Constituency in attaining the set SDGs by Government and the country.”
Gata added that the provision of infrastructure aligns with broader government policy objectives under President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s national development framework.
“His Excellency, President Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa, has a clear vision, a healthy nation and a productive education sector by 2030,” Gata said. “This project is a direct contribution to that vision. A healthy child learns better and a productive school feeds the nation.”
