Bulawayo hosts workshop to strengthen rural water Infrastructure

By Pronellah Lunga | 4 December 2024

A validation workshop is currently underway in Bulawayo to finalize the National Insurance Strategy for rural water infrastructure. This strategic initiative aims to bolster community-based management of rural water systems.

Speaking during the event, Director of Irrigation Development at the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, water and Rural development, Mr. Bezel Chisungo, highlighted the collaborative efforts between the ministry and UNDP to implement the strategy, which is designed to support individuals involved in irrigation schemes and water infrastructure.

”This approach is driven by the urgent need to safeguard our nation, particularly in the face of climate change. Extreme weather events have damaged our infrastructure, including irrigation systems, leading to significant economic losses and hardship for communities,” said Chisungo.

Our water supply systems have also been severely impacted by these extreme weather events. To address this, we need to collaborate with experts from the insurance industry to explore innovative solutions beyond those already implemented by the government,” he added.

UNDP Representative and Team Leader for the Nature, Climate, and Energy Unit, Dr Constance Pepukai, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership with the government on water security initiatives emphasizing the increasing urgency of addressing water related challenges due to climate change and recurring droughts.

“As UNDP we are rehabilitating irrigation schemes as away of climate proofing our agricultural production. We have a target to rehabilitate 21 irrigation schemes and on these irrigation we are not only focusing on hard infrastructure rehabilitation, we are supporting the farmers to make these irrigation schemes profitable and viable,” Dr Pepukai said.

The three-day workshop, led by the UNDP in collaboration with the Department of Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) under the Directorate of Water Resources and Irrigation Development, aims to ensure the comprehensive and effective implementation of the National Insurance Strategy.