Bulawayo Stories of Hope

The first borehole fitted with a solar powered pump by Tzaba is at the church of the Good Shepherd outside Bulawayo. The project began with the intention of using existing boreholes, rather than drilling new ones. We would identify potential candidates through discussions with the various dioceses and Ardez (Anglican Relief and Development in Zimbabwe), carry out a form of pump testing, and install the appropriate equipment and tank as required.

In early 2022 we commenced this approach at this remote church, located in the thorny bush of the Rangemore area, accessed down ungraded bumpy dirt roads. The small church was surrounded by the scrublands and red soil, with occasional small hut. The existing borehole was fairly shallow, around 21m deep, with a rest water level only 3m above this. A short test pump suggested a small yield, but sufficient for the church and local community. So we installed a small pump, solar panel array, and mounted a new 5,000 storage tank on their existing frame.

The little pump happily pottered along over the 2 years since, taking time to fill the tank and switching off occasionally when the borehole water level ran too low. We had also provided two taps from the tap; one for the church vegetable garden and one for the community at the gate. Last year there was an issue when the previous priest located the community tap to control usage, and this resulted in the local community damaging the storage tank…which was easily repaired. It was an important reminder that these installations are for the community benefit as much as the church… a lesson we have taken to all the sites.

I was keen to revisit the site this time round, given this emotional connection I have with it as the first of many. We collected Fr Moffat after the service and weaved our way through the challenging roads to Rangemore. I would have got completely lost as the remote rural church was now surrounded by new breezeblock houses with tanks and vehicles and children and corner shops. It was almost unrecognisable…indeed, there is now a large array of 8 solar panels dominating the parking area, and a new borehole in the field. We were welcomed by the priest and others, who were working in the yard.

It appears that the original borehole has been severely impacted by the expansion in housing, and the accompanying unregulated drilling of new boreholes. The water table has obviously declined and the limited depth of the hole has made it unviable. This is the result of the expansion of Bulawayo, which cannot even supply sufficient municipal water to the existing properties, so every new house needs its own water source. It is totally unsustainable, and will continue to degrade the underground resources.

The church managed to get funding from another charity to construct a new borehole, which was drilled to 70m, and is very productive, so we celebrate this. The vegetable garden is looking healthy, and we were entertained by the children in the playgroup (or perhaps we were the entertainment!) so the the church is clearly thriving.

But what yo do with the existing panels and borehole pump? 

Leaving the church we headed out on the Plumtree Road towards Botswana to one of the other sites. The School of St Cyrene has a farm over a kilometre from the school itself where the water is pumped, both for the school and the farm needs. Tzaba installed a solar powered pump and array in 2022 at the farm, boosting the water directly to the main storage tank at the school, which has mainly boarding students.

On the way, Fr Moffat warned us of the “invaders” now appearing on the farm and the school grounds. It appears that people are illegally entering, fencing land, cutting down trees, planting and even erecting permanent dwellings on school property, all owned by the church. I won’t elaborate on the politics of the situation, which is complex, but surfice to say that it has left challenges in maintaining the farm and the pumping setup. The activities of these invaders were clearly obvious as we drove through the dry thorn trees; fences were being put up, trees cut and land cleared.

There is a second borehole at the farm which should, ideally, be equipped as the existing borehole is at its maximum at this time of year but not providing sufficient for the school and farm needs. My immediate hope was to relocate the surplus solar and pump from the Church of the Good Shepherd to this borehole, but this was tempered by the uncertainty surrounding the actions of the invaders.

We left the farm, rather downhearted about the situation, but given that there are moves underway to evict them and regularise the position, we are hopeful and positive. I’ve agreed with Fr Moffat to review the possibility of funding the relocation to the St Cyrene Farm subject to the issue of the invaders being sorted, and the TZABA committees agreement. 

Those who work in these marginal edges of humanity, where uncertainty abounds, to minister and bring life and hope…and water…are real hero’s. Hope can be so fragile, but is so powerful. 

The poet, Seamus Heaney wrote: 

“Hope is not optimism, 

which expects things to turn out right. 

But something rooted in the conviction 

That there is Good worth working for.”

We celebrate all those working for Good in difficult circumstances. Thank you for letting me walk with you on your road, however briefly, and sharing your hope with me.

Thank you for reading.

Sandy