AY Dassu Trust hands over two boreholes in Ntcheu
AY Dassu Trust on Saturday officially handed over two boreholes worth over K5 million to people in Group Village Head (GVH) Gada Two and Zimema in Bwanje South Constituency in Ntcheu.
For a long time, women in the two areas had to walk long distances and sleep out in search of potable water.
Some reports say women and adolescent girls did not have enough time and energy to carry out household duties such as cooking, bathing, washing clothes and taking care of the elderly.
One of the women said it was painful to leave their husbands and children at night as they searched for water.
One of the trustees, Timothy Chirwa, said they were approached by one of the residents Maxwell Kalamula to consider sinking two boreholes to mitigate the problem of lack of potable water.
Chirwa said it took them about a month to sink boreholes, an exercise which cost over K5 million.
“As a Trust we need to mitigate the water problem by sinking the boreholes. So, we did not hesitate to assist when we were approached by Mr Kalamula,” he said.
Chirwa, however, asked the villagers to take care of the boreholes.
Kalamula said he could give the people money and clothes but could not give them clean water, that is why he approached AY Dassu Trust to assist.
“I am very thankful to the Trust for sinking these boreholes.”
GVH Hola said the problem was so acute in these villages that people and pigs were drinking from the same well.
“The population is so dense and there was acute water shortage. So, we are very thankful to the AY Dassu Trust,” he said.
Hola also asked the Trust to consider building classroom blocks for a junior primary school in the area since a lot of pupils fail to walk long distances as a result there is high dropout rate.
Water Development Assistant in the Department of Water, Robert Chisale, said people contribute money for the maintenance of the boreholes and he advised them to buy spare parts in advance.
“It is not advisable for you to keep the money, you have to buy spares before the prices increase,” he said.
AY Dassu has so far sunk nine boreholes in Zomba, Chikwawa, Neno and Ntcheu which cost them over K20 million.
A vibrant writer who gives a great insight on hot topics and issues
