Sex for water rife in Binga

IT is said water is life and Binga girls have, out of desperation, resorted to selling their bodies and be paid a bucket of water just to get the drop of "life".

Binga District has been hit by a serious water shortage after a Zesa transformer at Deka Drum broke down more than three weeks ago plunging most of Binga Centre into darkness. This has also led to dry taps as the pump that pumps water from the Zambezi River to the centre uses electricity.

This has seen some drivers taking advantage of the situation and are ferrying water from the Zambezi River which they use to bait girls some of school going age, to sex in exchange for a bucket of the precious liquid.

Binga Rural District Council chairman Mr Munkombwe Dube confirmed that some young girls were now engaging in prostitution and were being paid using buckets of water by some truck drivers who were ferrying the water from the Zambezi River.

"Some people travel long distances, close to seven kilometres from their places to the Zambezi River and young girls are sleeping with truck drivers so that they carry their water buckets to their designated places," he said.

Mr Dube said there were promises that the situation would be addressed but nothing has been done yet.

"I'm concerned with young girls because they are being exposed to ills that can cause unwanted pregnancies and also spread HIV," he said.

Mr Dube said schools around the affected areas have also continued sending pupils away due to the water problem.

Chief Siansale said Binga High School and others around centre were sending back home pupils as they cannot manage without running water.

"Some schools have been closed due to water crisis whereas others are focusing on writing classes," said Chief Siansale.

The chief said day pupils were being sent home while only Form Fours were the only ones coming to school.

The school is depending on the school truck to collect raw water from the Zambezi River for use by the boarders exposing them to risk of diseases.

"People are now using the bush to relieve themselves and this may lead to diseases while there are also fears of elephant attacks as the animals are always roaming around nearby bushes. We are also now fetching water directly from the crocodile infested Zambezi River," said a Binga resident.

The water and electricity situation is also affecting people from the whole of Binga District as they cannot access services from Government departments with those intending to apply for national identity cards being turned away. The hospital has not been spared from the water challenges.