News / Regional
Police foil water demo in Gwanda, activists arrested
17 Nov 2014 at 16:47hrs | Views
Gwanda residents with empty backets preparing for demostration, blocked by police
MATABELELAND SOUTH - A PLANNED street protest by residents against the local authority over perennial water woes bedevilling the Matabeleland South provincial capital, Gwanda, could not take place early today after police disbanded the group of protesters and arrested activists.
Residents' leader Bekezela Maduma Fuzwayo was picked up by police for leading the protest and taken for questioning. Our sources told us that the activist has not yet been released.
Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) catchment manager Rosen was also arrested before the meeting with residents.
Another activist Msizi Ncube was also arrested for taking pictures of people protesters.
A Gwanda legislator Edison Gumbo refused to speak to members of the public about the water situation.
"People are still gathered waiting for the arrested members to be released," our source on the grounded confided to us.
While in Bulawayo residents are protesting against prepaid water meters which council is mulling to introduce, it is a different story in Gwanda where residents are up in arms with their local authority over perennial water woes.
Residents have in the past few weeks been forced to fetch water from nearby dams as the water situation gets worse.
Recently, a top police officer died while fetching water in a river, a development which has irked residents who feel shortchanged by the city council.
Residents' leader Bekezela Maduma Fuzwayo was picked up by police for leading the protest and taken for questioning. Our sources told us that the activist has not yet been released.
Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) catchment manager Rosen was also arrested before the meeting with residents.
Another activist Msizi Ncube was also arrested for taking pictures of people protesters.
"People are still gathered waiting for the arrested members to be released," our source on the grounded confided to us.
While in Bulawayo residents are protesting against prepaid water meters which council is mulling to introduce, it is a different story in Gwanda where residents are up in arms with their local authority over perennial water woes.
Residents have in the past few weeks been forced to fetch water from nearby dams as the water situation gets worse.
Recently, a top police officer died while fetching water in a river, a development which has irked residents who feel shortchanged by the city council.
Source - Byo24News
