“It was tough to receive reports of no water in Zambezi and Siansuntu areas - to see people fetching raw, untreated water. But now I feel happy that everyone in this community can access safe, clean water”
▲ Engineer Jepson Masimba
UNDP Zimbabwe Annual Report
2024 in Review

Let it Flow

For Mlibizi village in Binga District, which has the world’s largest  man-made lake (Kariba) in its backyard, having limited access to clean, running water was an ironic reality. It did not help that the district receives very low rainfall - affecting food security and livelihoods options for the communities.
Engineer Jepson Masimba
Service Centre Leader for Hwange Province, Zimbabwe National Water Authority
65km
Length of new or revitalised pipeline laid to bring water to homes, schools, a clinic and agriculture fields.
Jepson’s responsibilities include clean water provision for Mlibizi village - a challenging task considering the aged or absent infrastructure, and inconsistent power supply for pumping operations.
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We worked with Jepson and the Water Authority to modernise Mlibizi’s water reticulation system by enhancing water abstraction capacity, upgrading the filtration system, expanding storage capacity along the system,  and  transitioning pumping to solar, with grid backup.
Man talking, with hands to his chest as if explaining using gestures
Tasked with improving Binga District’s low development indicators, Land Kabome sees water and solar projects spurring progress, including increased school enrolment and attracting more support from other organisations.
Land Sansole Kabome
District Development Coordinator for Binga District
Molina Mudimba
Mother, Mlibizi Resident, and Saba Valley Irrigation Scheme Chairperson
Molina Mudimba’s trekked ten-kilometre daily to the river for household water. In addition, cultivating substantial crops in her fields remained an elusive dream because of limited rainfall.
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Today, Molina accesses clean water just steps from her home. This new-found convenience has unlocked time for her to work on her new responsibilities as the inaugural chairperson of Saba Valley irrigation scheme.
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With water security established and early success taking root, Molina envisions a future where Saba Valley becomes Binga District’s breadbasket, writing a new chapter in the region’s story.
1,200
households now access clean water in their households
As the first port of call when his people have challenges, Chief Saba’s court knows first-hand the impact of climate change on his people. When an opportunity to establish irrigated community fields was presented, Chief Saba immediately contributed his family’s ancestral fields.
Chief Saba  
Traditional leadership in Mlibizi village
▲ All smiles for the first sugar bean crop! Molina and the irrigation scheme members yielded enough to feed families and generate income through surplus sales.
Zimbabwe Government coat of arms
Our work on water and energy for climate adaptation in Binga District is supported by funding from the British Embassy, and implemented together with the Government of Zimbabwe.