Residents of Ward 23 in Nyangambe village 2, Chiredzi, Zimbabwe, can now access safe and clean water, thanks to a solar-powered water point provided by the USAID Resilience Anchors. Prior to the project, the dry and arid community was forced to travel long distances to fetch water from open ponds, exposing them to waterborne diseases and wildlife attacks. More than 600 people living in the Nyangambe valley conservancy can now benefit from the clean water, which is essential for multiple purposes, and which has reduced human-wildlife conflict.

Svodai Musaingira, one of the residents who had to walk over 5km in search of water before the project, said, “We were frequently exposed to cholera because we would get water from dirty ponds, which animals such as dogs also relied on. We now have access to clean water, therefore we no longer have cases of cholera outbreaks.” The boreholes were installed to improve access to clean water and reduce human-wildlife conflict.

The USAID Resilience Anchors is a project aimed at strengthening the resilience of communities in Zimbabwe, with a focus on improving water, sanitation and hygiene, food security, and disaster preparedness. The project seeks to provide communities with the tools and resources necessary to adapt and thrive in the face of environmental and socio-economic challenges.

The installation of solar-powered water points is part of the project’s efforts to improve access to water in dry and arid regions of Zimbabwe. The project also seeks to improve food security by promoting climate-smart agriculture practices and increasing access to drought-resistant crops.

The USAID Resilience Anchors has been working with communities in Zimbabwe since 2016, and has provided clean water to over 200,000 people, improved food security for over 450,000 people, and supported disaster preparedness efforts in over 500 communities.

The project has been praised by locals, who say that it has greatly improved their lives. Canias Chikamhi, the chairperson of the Nyangambe water point, said, “Since we now have access to clean and potable water, we have not yet come across cases of cholera in the present day.”

The USAID Resilience Anchors project is a partnership between the United States Agency for International Development and Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Local Government and Public Works. The project seeks to support the development of sustainable and resilient communities in Zimbabwe, and to improve the lives of millions of people across the country.