Siphakeme .Mnindwa
Judith Phiri, Business Reporter
FOUR models have been proposed for the National Insurance Strategy for Rural Water Infrastructure that will be piloted in 2025 to determine the most effective insurance strategy for sustainable service delivery.
The strategy seeks to improve rural livelihoods through sustainable water access for domestic and irrigation purposes, while it is also expected to help communities quickly recover if disasters related to climate change damage water infrastructure in rural areas, such as irrigation systems and boreholes.
In an interview at the end of a three day validation workshop on developing the National Insurance Strategy on Rural Water Infrastructure in Bulawayo, Director for the Department of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Co-ordination Nesbert Shirihuru in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, said the four models for the insurance strategy were critical to protect vital rural water systems.
“The second republic wants to ensure inclusive development so we are here with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) the partner as well as other development partners, representatives of communities, districts water and sanitation subcommittees, members from the insurance fraternity and Government to validate and draft the national insurance strategy for the water supplies,” he said.
“The challenge has been that of sustainability and resilience of services. Our irrigation schemes once put up have been breaking down, our water supply systems and piped water schemes developed but would also break down. The idea is how we can ensure communities take charge of management of their infrastructure.”
He said that of the four models that have been proposed, one is that the Government creates a captive fund at the national level, where communities contribute to it. This pooled fund will be used for any eventualities that happen at the infrastructure points.
Mr Shirihuru said the other line of thought was a market-based approach, where the insurance sector, through the rural district councils (RDCs), can mobilise and take care of the community’s demand.
He added, “The other model was for the RDCs and Government partners to lead the process in line with devolution, as the RDCs will be the service authority. They will be responsible for registering service providers from the insurance sector and ensuring that communities become recognised as the legal persona of these community-based institutions like your water point management committees or piped water schemes committees or irrigation committees.”
Mr Shirihuru said this approach entails that the RDC facilities and ensures communities are moving forward.
On the last model, he said the discussion was around the establishment of an organised private sector insurance that has eyes on insuring the piped water schemes.
Mr Shirihuru said after formulating the draft strategy, they were to present it to the National Action Committee (NAC) on Water and Sanitation for adoption through the relevant subcommittees where the Department of Irrigation was also represented as their ministry chairs the subcommittee.
“Going forward, once it has been adopted by the NAC we will pilot the models with the RDCs at the forefront because they are the service delivery authorities. Thereafter we will then evaluate the progress and adopt the best model because it has to be informed by practice,” he said.
“We are hoping that the sitting of the NAC is in the first quarter will ensure the strategy is adopted, then we select districts where we will be piloting the four models in 2025.”
The ministry has partnered with the UNDP under the Climate Adaptation Water and Energy Programme (CAWEP) project to come up with the insurance strategy.
CAWEP project manager Dr Solomon Mutambara said discussions with multiple stakeholders ensured they came up with a framework for the national insurance strategy document.
“The process also involved coming up with institutional arrangements that can make the insurance more sustainable. The strategy document will have to be approved by the respective ministries after the second round of validation.
“What we are planning as UNDP and our funding partner the British Embassy to Zimbabwe is to facilitate the piloting of the proposed tailored made insurance products, starting with the CAWEP targeted districts Chipinge, Chivi, Insiza and Binga,” he said.
He said there were also districts where the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and Mercy Corps implemented projects that supported safe water provision in Mutare and Buhera, while piloting will also take place in these districts.
CAWEP is a five-year project funded by the British Embassy to the tune of 13,6 million Pounds.
