Local churches have embarked on a water project that has brought relief to Kuwadzana and Dzivaresekwa residents getting safe and clean drinking water.

Residents in most parts of the city have had to endure long water cuts for the past six years or as due to council failure to supply water.

The churches include Kuwadzana United Methodist Church and Dzivaresekwa Moslem Society.

Residents who spoke to RelZim, at Kuwadzana United Methodist Church expressed gratitude to the authorities for coming up with the initiative.

“We thank the United Methodist and its partner for assisting us with clean safe water. As you know hygiene at home begins with safe water, now that we have clean borehole water our families are now safe from water borne diseases,” said Tafadzwa Mudini.

Another woman Nothando Matambo encouraged other churches in the area to come up with similar initiatives.

Kuwadzana United Methodist Church official who preferred anonymity said the water was not only for church members.

“We invite everyone in the surrounding communities to come here and get water. As a church we have the mandate to help the community and this is part of our efforts,” he said.

MSF Water and Sanitation coordinator Huggins Madondo said the organization was working in collaboration with the Harare City Health Department in the provision of safe drinking water through setting up of mini water treatment sites in affected areas as well as rehabilitation of already existing boreholes.

“We have targeted 12 institutions such as clinics, schools, churches and Mosque. We are providing these institutions with 20mc water tanks, in-line feeder with slow releasing chlorine tablets, 4.5KVA generators for power back up, submersible pumps and water taps which are installed outside the premises to minimize interruption of activities in these institutions.”

Unicef and other donor organisations partnered City of Harare to drill as an emergency response to 2008/9 cholera outbreak which affected 52 out of 62 districts in Zimbabwe and resulted in 98 531 and 4282 deaths.