Opinion / Letters
ZINWA and Water crisis in Gwanda
11 Apr 2017 at 11:52hrs | Views
To: ZINWA
Gwanda Residents Association notes with great concern that there appears to be no amicable solution to the water crisis in the town in particular with regards the issue of the dual administration of water supply in the town.
This dual administration has seen the current water disconnections by ZINWA which have left the town waterless for the last couple of days following their abrupt installation of bulk prepaid meters at the main reservoirs.
In October last year residents held a demonstration demanding for the removal of ZINWA from our water administration with a deadline for this being effected set as 31 December 2016. In reaction, his worship the Mayor made a guaranteed that engagements with both ZINWA and central government were underway and getting to an advanced stage to solve the problem.
He requested that the residents extend the time frame to give deliberations up to round about end of March 2017 where a solution or finality to the management of our water situation will have been reached.
We note that the time frame stipulated has since lapsed and a finality to the matter appears to have been "found." It appears the finality is that ZINWA has been allowed to arrogantly unroll its prepaid water system albeit with all reservations from the residents and stakeholders.
The finality which is implied here is also that ZINWA appears to be staying further long in the administration of Gwanda water also against the wishes and aspirations of the people of Gwanda.
We therefore in regard to the above request for an urgent meeting between the residents and other stakeholders representatives of Gwanda with your council, ZINWA and as much as possible with representatives from both the Ministry of Local Government and the Ministry Of Water. In the same meeting we request the presence of the regulating body in the form of the District Police Officers and their ancillary.
We would be very happy if your council could arrange this meeting and it be held as a matter of urgency immediately after the long Easter Holidays as despondency is growing amongst the residents and the town might soon run out of control.
Sincerely
Bekezela Maduma Fuzwayo
Secretary General
Gwanda Residents Association
0716 486 415
Cc:
ZINWA
Dispol ZRP Gwanda
Gwanda Residents Association notes with great concern that there appears to be no amicable solution to the water crisis in the town in particular with regards the issue of the dual administration of water supply in the town.
This dual administration has seen the current water disconnections by ZINWA which have left the town waterless for the last couple of days following their abrupt installation of bulk prepaid meters at the main reservoirs.
In October last year residents held a demonstration demanding for the removal of ZINWA from our water administration with a deadline for this being effected set as 31 December 2016. In reaction, his worship the Mayor made a guaranteed that engagements with both ZINWA and central government were underway and getting to an advanced stage to solve the problem.
He requested that the residents extend the time frame to give deliberations up to round about end of March 2017 where a solution or finality to the management of our water situation will have been reached.
We note that the time frame stipulated has since lapsed and a finality to the matter appears to have been "found." It appears the finality is that ZINWA has been allowed to arrogantly unroll its prepaid water system albeit with all reservations from the residents and stakeholders.
We therefore in regard to the above request for an urgent meeting between the residents and other stakeholders representatives of Gwanda with your council, ZINWA and as much as possible with representatives from both the Ministry of Local Government and the Ministry Of Water. In the same meeting we request the presence of the regulating body in the form of the District Police Officers and their ancillary.
We would be very happy if your council could arrange this meeting and it be held as a matter of urgency immediately after the long Easter Holidays as despondency is growing amongst the residents and the town might soon run out of control.
Sincerely
Bekezela Maduma Fuzwayo
Secretary General
Gwanda Residents Association
0716 486 415
Cc:
ZINWA
Dispol ZRP Gwanda
Source - Bekezela Maduma Fuzwayo
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