The Adventist Church's Guruve District in Muzarabani, Zimbabwe, has provided a new borehole and garden project to the Mhene Village.

Before the new borehole was opened, residents of Mhene Village walked to the Msengenzi River. Residents have reported that four women were killed in crocodile attacks at the river between January and April of this year.

Church leaders said the new borehole and garden will help keep residents safer, as the dangerous trek is no longer necessary.

The borehole and garden project, driven by the Seventh-day Adventist community with donor support, was formally handed over to the community at a ceremony attended by local leaders, church officials, and residents.

The borehole and garden project began after Dr. Alaisa Mbiriri was invited to the Guruve District as a guest speaker for an evangelistic campaign. While speaking with residents, she identified the village's water shortage and felt called to seek funding to address it.

“When I went to Muzarabani for the campaign, I had a desire to do more than just preach but meet the needs of the community. So, I asked the community and the local pastor as to what challenges were in the community, and it was when I learnt of this water challenge,” Dr. Mbiriri said.

“I then took it upon myself to look for sponsors who can help finish the project and make sure the community has access to clean and safe water to drink.”

The sponsorship she secured paid for the borehole to be drilled and for the establishment of the Anouya Garden Project alongside it.

Conlet Musiiwa, North Zimbabwe Conference Ministerial director, gave the keynote address at the ceremony and described the project as central to the Church’s work.

“The Church finds joy in satisfying people’s needs and is glad to share the little we have,” he said. “God is looking for those who are concerned about other people’s problems.”

Guruve District pastor Ruston Chigonero said the Church was following Christ’s method of meeting physical needs directly, and the borehole and garden could transform livelihoods across Mhene Village.

Local leaders urged residents to protect the new infrastructure. Councillor ALD A. Chiwashira thanked the Church and asked residents to “guard the borehole and garden projects jealously.”

A village leader said the project had lifted a significant burden from the community.

“It is my prayer that this borehole never dries up,” the leader said, adding that residents of neighboring Chawarura and Mapfumo villages, who face the same water shortage, are welcome to draw water from the installation.

The original article was published on the Southern Africa-Indian Ocean Division news site.