
Today has been a day of taking and training and reviewing where we are. I have been with the A Team at Paget House, the offices of the Anglican church in Harare. Perhaps it is time to introduce the Team, for after all, they are the ones who will be applying the process we've been developing.

Artwell Sipinyu is the head coordinator of ARDEZ: short for Anglican Relief and Development for Zimbabwe. He is a larger than life character, who can be mistaken for a quiet unassuming person. But spending time with him immediately exposes a quick humour and gentle loving father full of life. It would appear He is the one who has the widest collection of jokes and stories for any occasion! He has a phone ring which always makes me smile, and the Isuzu pickup which has a radiator held together with carefully applied wire, and a car locking mechanism which is rather temperamental. All which makes for interesting travelling in very wet weather. And today is his birthday!

Darlington Musekiwa is the ARDEZ coordinator in the Central Province, based in Gweru. I first met him over 12 years ago when I was exploring water support options in the country. He is a slender slightly greying gentlemen with a gentle nature, and easily underestimated. Once he breaks his silence and starts sharing his thoughts and ideas he shines. I see him as the beating heart of this group, willing to ask questions and suggest options, almost as the father and guide. Such a strength within the group. He has gained a reputation for continuing to ask questions of drillers, even when they plead for mercy...and change lodges! Go Darlington.

Matthias Maduba is the coordinator from Masvingo Province, with a family near Mvuma. He is a keen and enthusiastic young man, who has found himself struggling with the bank manager over the past days. Importantly, he is the preacher and pray-er of the Team, and I can imagine him happily giving hour long sermons at shirt notice, so watch out getting him started. But a pleasure to work with, watching and absorbing what's happening. I had the pleasure of meeting his daughters at Daramombe school, clearly a very proud father.

And today we had to put together a Multi criteria Analysis for assessing applications. How are decisions made on site selection for another borehole? How does one choose between a School, a Clinic, a church community with a water shortage? Is it simply a numbers game? Distance to current water source ?
This is vital because as the project unfolds there is an increase pressure from each Diocese and Bishop for more in their area. Accusations of being sidelined are already arising: Tzaba didn't provide any boreholes in our Diocese, while Central got 4 boreholes, etc. The process has to be transparent and clear, and free from interference.
But we struggle over how to weight the needs of a School against a local church community or an orphanage. Are elderly communities valued less than children at school? Very tough questions, but essential to debate.
Finally, criteria and tables are drawn up, lists of details required are compiled, and a document begins to come together. It feels a bit like deciding who gets the opportunity to thrive, and who will continue to struggle for water. It doesn't seem fair, or right. But with limited resources such decisions are being made all the time. Particularly given the completely weird decision made by the new US President to halt all aid. All the aid industry is frantically trying to make sense of the implications, but whatever, there are significant consequences which will result in lives being lost.
I am pleased our Tzaba funding is independent at this stage from US Aid, although I made an attempt a year ago for funding, unsuccessfully, and perhaps fortuitously.
Thank you for reading, and for your support.
Sandy Elsworth. 29 January 2025
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