"Thank you, China!" At Senondo Primary School in Guanda, the capital of Southern Matabeleland Province, Zimbabwe, students gave thumbs up while drinking water from a well built with Chinese aid. In August 2021, the well of Senondo Elementary School has successfully discharged water. This is also the 1,000th well constructed by China for Zimbabwe.

In Rwanda, the "country of a thousand hills", Chinese technicians are intensively operating the drilling rig, working day and night to complete the 200 "Chinese well" aid construction tasks. The local villagers looked at the drilling rig, expecting the source of life to gush out from the well.

Senondo Elementary School was founded in 1992. In recent years, the local municipal water supply has been facing difficulties, sometimes for more than a month without water, and the study and life of more than 1,600 students in the school have been deeply affected. Principal Joyce Mdrongowa said that due to the water cut, the school’s toilets were unavailable, and the school was even forced to suspend classes at one time.

After the "China Well" produces water, water is no longer a problem. Mdlongwa told reporters that now the children have safe drinking water, and there is enough water for hand washing and cleaning. The "Chinese Well" has given her greater "ambition". The playground is covered with soil and grass, so that the students can run freely. She also wants to open vegetable gardens, orchards and fish ponds on campus to add vegetables to the students’ lunches.

At the Esgordini Regional Hospital, about 80 kilometers away from Senondo Primary School, the "China Well" also solved a major problem. Sinalavo, the regional medical officer who is stationed in the hospital, said that in 2020, the only well in the hospital will dry up, and the hospital can only buy bottled water for emergency treatment, and it is difficult to guarantee daily water.

In July 2021, "China Well" settled in the hospital, and the hospital's ward, operating room and office area finally had water again. Sinalavo said with emotion, "China Well" has brought "water as precious as life" to the hospital.

Chinese well let villagers say goodbye to disease

In Lugarama Village in Ngoma District, Oriental Province, Rwanda, a flag with "China Aid" printed in Chinese and English was fluttering in the wind at the construction site of the Chinese government's aid to the Rwanda water well project. With the rumbling sound, a large drilling rig was drilling wells. Many villagers curiously watched the drill bit continue to drop, like a large treasure digging site. Everyone was looking forward to discovering "treasure" from the splashed sand. Come.

Villager Balahin Yuza told reporters that due to the lack of clean drinking water, everyone suffered a lot and had to travel long distances to get water from other places. "Someone drank the dirty water in the nearby swamp and got a waterborne disease."

"This well will completely meet our water demand and solve the health and sanitation problems of our village." After speaking, Balahin Yuza, like everyone else, turned his attention to the rumbling drilling rig.

And in Niameirama No. 1 Village in Niagatare Region, Oriental Province, the villagers there have tasted the sweet taste brought by the "Chinese Well". The clear groundwater flows from the wellhead water press into the bucket, and the villagers face It was full of joy.

The "Chinese Well" has brought tangible benefits to the African people. The Governor of Southern Matabeleland Province of Zimbabwe, Abednico Ncube, said that the well-built well project is a microcosm of the friendly relations between Zimbabwe and China. 150 wells were built with China’s assistance in Southern Matabeleland Province. It has benefited tens of thousands of people and brought precious water to this drought-stricken province.

China Jiangxi International Economic and Technical Cooperation Co., Ltd. is the constructor of the China-aided water well project in Zimbabwe. Project leader Duan Chuanxiu told reporters that since 2012, the Chinese government has funded the construction of 1,000 wells across Zimbabwe, benefiting more than 400,000 people. Over the years, in every village visited by the well-drilling team, the villagers sang and danced to welcome the Chinese well-drilling team. "Every time I am moved by the enthusiasm of the local people, I am extremely proud of being a Chinese aid worker."

China's aid to the construction of Zimbabwe's wells project has come to an end, and the Rwanda's aid to construction of wells is still in progress. China’s aid to Rwanda’s water well project was undertaken by China Geotechnical Engineering Group Co., Ltd. It is planned to complete 200 wells, mainly distributed in 11 districts of Eastern Province and Southern Province of the country. Currently, 150 wells have been completed. The project is expected to be in March 2022. Fully completed.

Ding Siyu, deputy manager of the Rwanda office of China Geology Central and East Africa Branch, told reporters: “From the beginning of drilling, sinking, and running down of pipes to the current well platform, and finally letting the common people use it, building these wells is like watching your own children grow a little longer. The same." Keywords: One Belt One Road, One Belt One Road News, One Belt One Road Project

In addition to Zimbabwe and Rwanda, the Chinese government has also implemented aided well construction projects in Zambia, Ghana, Cameroon, Mozambique and other African countries for many years. The completion of a "Chinese well" allows African brothers and sisters to drink peace of mind.Editor/XuNing