Council mobilising residents to go on mass action

Municipality of Gwanda councillors are reported to be mobilising residents of the town to go out on a mass demonstration against the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) over continued water woes in the town.

In the latest radio news broadcast on Star FM News, Gwanda Residents Association spokesperson Bekezela Maduma Fuzwayo is quoted as saying that the councillors have called the residents of the town to a meeting at the town's stadium tomorrow morning to discuss the stand off between Council and ZINWA on the erratic water supplies in the town. According to the news broadcast, Gwanda has been facing water problems for a long time as a result of a stand off between ZINWA and Council over an outstanding debt.

Speaking on the news broadcast Fuzwayo told Star FM news that his association is not fully informed on the proposed residents meeting but aware that its to discuss the water crisis. In a follow up by this media, Fuzwayo confirmed that they had been in a meeting with one of the councillors who indicated that council is calling the residents to announce that council has failed to handle ZINWA and handing over the case to the residents.

"I can confirm that one of the councillors has indicated to residents in a public meeting held today that council will indeed tomorrow meet with all the residents of the town and mobilise them to demonstrate against ZINWA dependent on the outcome of a meeting between Council and ZINWA held today," he said.

Probed further on the possibility of the council taking such a move, Fuzwayo refused to commit himself to matters around the council meeting as it was not communicated to the Residents Association formally. He expressed disappointment in council trying to coerce people to a demonstration against ZINWA where as council called the police to call off a similar demonstration organised by the residents against ZINWA late last year.

"I am not going to comment beyond what the councillor said except that if this is what council is planning its sad because this issue would have been sealed last year had council not intervened by calling the police to stop a residents demonstration on the same matter because it was led from within the residents," said Fuzwayo.

"We can not stop them if the legal provisions around their operations allow councillors to lead demonstration all we want as residents is water from the pipes and not points scoring," he added.

According to Fuzwayo, council refused to have a tripartite meeting involving ZINWA, Council and the Residents Association which he believes remains the only logical way towards an amicable solution to the water problems.

"We asked for a formal tripartite meeting between ZINWA, Council and Residents representatives last year but council snubbed us while ZINWA came forward," said Fuzwayo. "Its hopeless holding separate meetings. As residents we want water so if we meet and realise ZINWA is to blame we will get ZINWA out of our water and if its council the same will go for them without fear or favour," added Fuzwayo.

Comment could not be sources from the Mayor's office nor from the Town Clerk who were both said to be in a meeting. However a council official who would not be named confirmed that council will tomorrow hold a meeting with residents to discuss the water problems in the town and a way forward on the Council and ZINWA stand off.