On 12 June 2026, Chinese Ambassador Zhou Ding travelled to Manicaland Province to attend the handover ceremony for the China-aided 300 boreholes drilling project. He was joined by Hon. Daniel Garwe, Minister of Local Government and Public Works, and Hon. Omphile Marupi, Deputy Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services. Around 1,000 local officials and villagers gathered for the occasion. 

In his remarks, Ambassador Zhou noted that in response to cyclone damage and prolonged severe drought hitting Zimbabwe, China completed construction of the 300 boreholes across four provinces over nearly two years, directly benefiting 75,000 residents. The project delivers safe, clean drinking water to disaster-hit communities and advances local public health and sanitation. China will keep advancing the Global Development Initiative and Global Security Initiative, standing with Zimbabwe to tackle climate impacts and boost people’s wellbeing. 

Minister Garwe expressed gratitude for China’s sustained livelihood-focused assistance, noting the boreholes stand as another tangible testament to the time-honored China-Zimbabwe friendship, and will lend robust support to Zimbabwe’s delivery of National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2) and Vision 2030.