News / Regional
Gwanda runs dry again
21 Dec 2014 at 08:59hrs | Views
Residents of Gwanda today woke up to their fifth day without water as the town's water woes appear to be far from being over.
The town has been without water since Tuesday morning following another battle between the local council and the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA). The national water authority claims that the Municipality of Gwanda owes it more than $7 million in outstanding water bills since 2009 when the currency was changed to US$. As a result of the debt ZINWA had to embark on water supply cut off to force council to pay the debt.
The local authority has been disputing the bill leading to a court case where the High Court passed a ruling that ZINWA should never cut off water supply to the town. In defiance to the court order, the authority continued to cut of water supply in the name of rationing the water claiming they didn't have the money to treat water as they were not getting revenue from council. Last month the authority "rationed" water to the town for close to two weeks which led to the residents of the town going out on a street demonstration which stopped by the police leading to the arrest of some of the residents leaders amongst them Residents Association Spokesman Bekezela Maduma Fuzwayo.
Gwanda residents jostle for water from a private borehole.
To try and solve the matter, the police through a report from the Municipality arrested a ZINWA's area catchment manager Engineer Tommy Rosen for breach of the High Court order. Following the arrest of Rosen who was forced by the police to adhere to the court order, water supply was restored to the town to the relief of the residents.
In the latest episode of the water ZINWA claims that two of its water pumps at the Gwanda pump station broke down last week and they for not have money to repair the pump since they are not receiving payment from council. According to sources in the council, The authority has demanded council to pay them over $30 000 to repair the pumps of which council only managed to pay $10 000. The pumps remain unfixed six days later while ZINWA still demands more money.
Meanwhile, residents have expressed anger at the continuous fighting between ZINWA and council with no solution looking likely to be found while they battle for water. Council is sending a water bowser around town serving residents with 20 liters of water per household per day. Some residents are getting water from near by private borehole owners who are charging $1 per 20 litre bucket.
The town has been without water since Tuesday morning following another battle between the local council and the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA). The national water authority claims that the Municipality of Gwanda owes it more than $7 million in outstanding water bills since 2009 when the currency was changed to US$. As a result of the debt ZINWA had to embark on water supply cut off to force council to pay the debt.
The local authority has been disputing the bill leading to a court case where the High Court passed a ruling that ZINWA should never cut off water supply to the town. In defiance to the court order, the authority continued to cut of water supply in the name of rationing the water claiming they didn't have the money to treat water as they were not getting revenue from council. Last month the authority "rationed" water to the town for close to two weeks which led to the residents of the town going out on a street demonstration which stopped by the police leading to the arrest of some of the residents leaders amongst them Residents Association Spokesman Bekezela Maduma Fuzwayo.
Gwanda residents jostle for water from a private borehole.
To try and solve the matter, the police through a report from the Municipality arrested a ZINWA's area catchment manager Engineer Tommy Rosen for breach of the High Court order. Following the arrest of Rosen who was forced by the police to adhere to the court order, water supply was restored to the town to the relief of the residents.
In the latest episode of the water ZINWA claims that two of its water pumps at the Gwanda pump station broke down last week and they for not have money to repair the pump since they are not receiving payment from council. According to sources in the council, The authority has demanded council to pay them over $30 000 to repair the pumps of which council only managed to pay $10 000. The pumps remain unfixed six days later while ZINWA still demands more money.
Meanwhile, residents have expressed anger at the continuous fighting between ZINWA and council with no solution looking likely to be found while they battle for water. Council is sending a water bowser around town serving residents with 20 liters of water per household per day. Some residents are getting water from near by private borehole owners who are charging $1 per 20 litre bucket.
Source - Byo24News
