Statement from the Gwanda Residents Association on the continuous water shortages

The Interim Committee of the Gwanda Residents Association acknowledges receipt of the numerous complaints from the residents about the continuous water problems in the town. The complaints indeed come at a time when the committee has also been assessing the situation and sitting meetings to try and bring sanity into the issue of the water situation in the town.

It is fact that our dams are full of water and the infrastructure to pump the water though old is but still functional and capable of providing us with water. Our water crisis is because of a mere administrative bundle between the Zimbabwe National Water Authority and the Municipality.

In the regard, the Gwanda Residents Association would like to make it categorically clear to both Council and ZINWA that the days of the grass dying while two elephants fight are over. We are now living in a dispensation where the grass has a right to decide not to have elephants fight on top of it.

We would like to remind both ZINWA and Council that they have a mandate through the ZINWA Act, The Urban Councils Act and our Constitution to ensure that we are not only provided with portable water but also clean and safe water at ALL times.

Residents have been very patient while their constitutional right is being infringed and that patience is unfortunately running out. In the fore going we would like to through this notice present the residents' demand that the Municipality of Gwanda and ZINWA solve the water issue in Gwanda without any further delay. Our recommendation as an Association which we have previously stated is that for purposes of efficiency, responsibility, accountability and affordability ZINWA releases the water purification plant to the Municipality immediately.

Residents have been blamed for not paying their bills which to us is just an excuse. Authorities have never bothered to consider the real reason that people are failing to service their water bills is because the water in Gwanda is unaffordable as a result of the ZINWA and Council third partying relationship.

The fact that council is only able to collect about 50% of the water revenue from the residents is but a clear message that this is what the residents can afford. It is proven fact that water in Gwanda is the most expensive in the country costing up to twice what other local authorities are charging with council claiming to be buying water expensively from ZINWA.

That being the case we therefore hereby reiterate our demand for an immediate removal of ZINWA as a part in our water supply process and bring the price of water down. This will logically increase the percentage collection of revenue on water ensuring efficiency and responsibility in the supply of water by council.

On behalf of the residents, we therefore by this notice and by official correspondence to follow advise ZINWA and Council that residents are on the verge of invoking their section 59 constitutional right to petition and demonstrate against this ill by boycotting payment for this service and even other tariffs until the issue is resolved.

However, in the true spirit of the love for uninterrupted service provision in the town and to protect and enhance good working relations between the residents, stakeholders and Council as an Association we do not want to let situations boil to these levels. However, as stated, if the situation remains as is we certainly will also be left with no option but to allow residents to demand what is due to them by whatever means they feel fit.

We therefore call on Council and ZINWA to urgently attend to this water problem within the shortest possible time ahead.