Chivi Growth Point goes 6 weeks without water

There are fears of disease outbreaks at Chivi Growth Point where residents have now gone for more than six weeks without water, Masvingo Mirror reported.

Chivi District Medical Officer Dr William Mawoko said cleanliness and hygiene has become difficult at the Growth Point without water.

Residents are buying water from people in the surrounding communities who have boreholes and wells at $3 per drum. Others are hiring cars to Tugwi River which is more than 12 km away to get water.

Although Chivi Acting District Administrator, Vapias Hlavati told The Mirror that The Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) was rectifying the problem with effect from Monday this week the situation had still not changed by Wednesday this week.

"The water crisis issue is true but it has been rectified and ZINWA officials have said water will be available starting from Monday this week," said Hlavati.

Chivi residents told The Mirror that life has become a nightmare as children are carrying water to schools for all purposes while people queue at boreholes throughout the night for the precious liquid.

Sources told The Mirror that the critical water shortage is due to a breakdown in engines used by the Zinwa to pump out water from Tugwi Dam. They also attributed the problem to old water pipes that are experiencing frequent bursts.

When contacted for comment, Zinwa Corporate Communications and Marketing Manager Marjorie Munyonga said the Growth Point has not been receiving water for the past few days owing to a breakdown which is being attended to. Zinwa however, advises all water users to use the available water sparingly in light of the current drought the country is going through.

Sources said the water supplies problems started in September 28, 2016 and although Zinwa has been making strenuous efforts to rectify the faults, it was only for a short time.