THOHOYANDOU –In a great initiative to alleviate water shortage in rural areas, the Thulamela Municipality drilled boreholes in 15 rural villages within its jurisdiction. The project cost the municipality R484 000.

Villages that benefited from the water programme are Dikari, Makonde-Lufulalunwe, Mbahe, Makahlule, Mafenya, Makhumbe, Lurangwe, Lamvi, Mavunde, Mangondi, Nweli, Tshivhungululu, Mutunzini, Babangwa and Dopeni-Tshipise.

The municipality’s communication officer, Mr Ndwamato Tshiila, said it has always been the municipality’s mission to deliver basic services to the community. “Water shortage is one of the major problems facing our people, especially those in the deep rural areas. As a responsible municipality, we feel it is our duty to make sure that water is accessible to everyone. The municipality will con-tinue to deliver services to the community, but we need everyone’s par-ticipation to realize our dreams.”

Tshiila said the project also revived other boreholes which were no longer functional. “We replaced old boreholes in places like Mbahe village where the old one had collapsed. The municipality drilled a new one. We also equipped some of the boreholes with hand pumps, especially in the villages with little water underground. In Dikari village, another borehole was drilled after the original one had collapsed. The new borehole has more water and the Department of Water Affairs is busy installing a diesel engine.”

Tshiila urged community members to cooperate with the municipality to ensure the municipality’s growth and development.

“It is our collective effort that makes things happen and we believe we will continue to get unending support from the members of the community for the benefit of our community,” he said.