WorldWide Drilling Resource

(661) 201-6259 bitcoinc.us Bitco, Inc. (800) 348-8809 diedrichdrill.com (503) 682-1001 rockmore-intl.com (800) 833-2040 flomatic.com Diedrich Drill Flomatic Corporation Rockmore International (800) 538-5823 jetlube.com (800) 241-1935 simmonsmfg.com Simmons Mfg. (800) 356-5130 bakerwatersystems.com These companies provide outstanding service! To advertise yours here, call: (850) 547-0102 or e-mail: wwdr@worldwidedrillingresource.com 48 JULY 2017 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® Holes of Hope in Zimbabwe Compiled by the Editorial Staff of WorldWide Drilling Resource ® As the sun sets beneath the horizon in Zimbabwe, village women can be seen running toward a Chinese borehole to fetch some much-needed water. Young boys gather around with huge smiles as the water gushes from the near- by borehole, which has saved them a long trek to fetch water for their cattle. The entire village cannot hide the abounding joy from drawing up the seldom seen clean supply of hope and nourishment. Since 2012, China Jiangxi Corporation has been drilling boreholes in dry, remote parts of Zimbabwe. It’s part of a Chinese government support project to aid Zimbabwe. The drilling has increased as of late because of the devastating Zimbabwe drought, which has ruined harvests, killed thousands of cattle, and caused many dams in the country to dry up. As a result of the worst drought for the country in decades, finding water has become a daily struggle for survival as the authorities have to ration what usable water is available. The drought has left an estimated 25% of the rural population in need of food aid, since the cattle and crops lack the necessary water supply for appropriate food production. As a result, up to 72% of the population live below the poverty line, but there is hope on the horizon. The Chinese government is providing a $16 million grant and an additional inter- est loan for the drilling project, which is trying to drill 500 boreholes in Zimbabwe. The implementation of the project is being done in three phases. Phase one ran from 2012 to 2013, and involved 64 boreholes being drilled in the dry Matabeleland region of the country. Phase two ran from 2014 to 2015, and saw 136 boreholes in the Mahshonland Central, Mashonland East, and Manicaland Provinces. The third phase is running from through 2017, and will target a grand total of 300 boreholes. The company is planning to drill 12 boreholes in the Rushinga District, which has been hit particularly hard by the water crises. Residents and villagers in the district have to rely on the few boreholes which still have water, but most of the holes have dried up, making the 12 new boreholes planned by China Jiangxi Corporation even more important. The project will con- tinue through the dry and rainy seasons until all the boreholes have been drilled, to bring relief to Zimbabwe.