Water disconnections hits Chitungwiza suburb

Chitungwiza Municipality has intensified water disconnections in Zengeza. The disconnections have been prompted by perceived defaulting on payments for water services. Many of the affected residents had perceived debt of US$243, with the highest figure amounting to US$482. A survey by Community Water Alliance revealed that some of the residents disconnected had been served with a notice of water service disconnection. This was the case at the following House Numbers: Stand 11841, Zengeza; Stand 18043, Zengeza; Stand 7095, Zengeza; Stand 1932, Zengeza; Stand 12262, Zengeza; Stand 11856, Zengeza and Stand 12283, Zengeza. The Alliance further noted that civic education was lacking even on reading water bills and the affected residents became hopeless. Other disconnected residents were not served with a notice of water service disconnection.

On a different note Mufakose was hard hit by disconnections and removal of water meters for the past two days. Many of the disconnected residents are disputing the water bills.

The right to water dictates that procedural fairness has to be adhered to if disconnections are to be implemented. Procedural fairness demands issuing of notice to disconnect and securing a court order (Mushoriwa vs City of Harare) before disconnections. Court orders are vital to prevent Local Authorities from acting as both player and referee. This also promotes separation of powers. During disconnections Local Authorities are mandated to provide an alternative water source with minimum provisions that sustain basic requirements of life. After disconnections, there has to be an option for remedy for those who feel that their rights have been infringed. Beyond procedural fairness Local Authorities have an obligation to respect the right to water. This obligation is of immediate effect and requires water service providers to desist from actions that prevent citizens who are already connected to water supply, from accessing water. It is worrying that although the perceived water debts are quite huge within Low
Density Suburbs, water disconnections and property attachment is targeting the poor in High Density Suburbs. Water provision in Zimbabwe has there birthed a new kind of apartheid separating the rich from the poor.

Meanwhile Community Water Alliance has moved beyond legal clinics and is formulating a Civic Society WASH Coordinating Platform that will be attended by residents associations, social movements, community based organizations and human rights associations.  The WASH Coordinating Platform (chaired by Community Water Alliance) will be a WASH Governance Community of Practice center that will deliberate water policies and laws; formulate advocacy strategies on water; promote civic education on water; capacitate social movements on all issues to do with water provision and set the foundation for post 2015 Water Agenda for Zimbabwe.