Gwanda demo cleared by police

POLICE in Gwanda have finally given the nod to residents to protest against the Zimbabwe National Water Authority over the water crisis in the mining town.

The march will now be held today after police blocked yesterday's protest arguing that there were several national events, which were supposed to take place in the town, amid reports that First Lady Grace Mugabe was expected to be the guest of honour at one of them.

Gwanda Residents' Association spokesperson, Bekezela Maduma Fuzwayo yesterday said while police had cleared the demonstration, it was sad the protest coincided with an electoral reforms consultative meeting being conducted by the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Justice led by Jessie Majome.

"Finally the people of Gwanda have been granted their deserved opportunity to exercise their constitutional right to collectively send their message of disgruntlement against the pathetic water situation in the town," he said.

"We definitely hope that after this, the powers-that-be will listen to our voices and rise above all egos and solve our water crisis. We will definitely peacefully march for our right to clean, safe and potable water."

Fuzwayo thanked the Gwanda cops for finally realising that their cry was for nothing else but a right to water, which ironically also affects the operations of police stations and other essential services providers.

"We needed not to remind our regulating authority of the deaths that we have seen in recent months as people scavenge for water and one such death being of a police officer," he said.

"Gwanda Residents' Association invites all residents to come forward and be part of this message at Phakama Business Centre on Saturday at 8am. It's our right, let's use it."

Fuzwayo said they had written to Majome asking her to delay the meeting to the afternoon when they demonstration is over to allow the residents to participate in the march. He said they were yet to get a response from her.