Do not buy cllrs, MPs bottled water during events MIHR

BULAWAYO  residents have been urged to desist from buying their councillors and legislators bottled water during public events but make them drink the water which the community drink on daily basis.

"When you are having a local community meeting, desist from buying your local MP or Councilor bottled water and instead give them that same water you drink so that they appreciate the water challenges that you are facing and take your water rights concerns seriously" said Khumbulani Maphosa, MIHR Coordinator while facilitating a water and climate change Claim Your Water Rights workshop for Bulawayo, Umguza, Harare and Chitungwidza residents.

The workshop organized by Matabeleland Institute for Human Rights (MIHR) and National Association of Youth Organizations (NAYO) is part of the global #ClaimYourWaterRights Campaign and empowers local communities and activists to actively and nonviolently claim their water rights whilst demanding urgent climate action.

"Today's workshop (Monday 13 September 2021) is part of the MIHR #MondayWaterAction Campaign which will see the trained activists (Water and Environment Community Influencers) embarking on different actions to protect and promote water and environmental rights concerns," he said.

Facilitating in the same workshop, McDonald Munyoro (NAYO Programmes Manager) further challenged the local activists to document water rights concerns happening in their community and utilize such social accountability tools as the AAAQ Framework to make their water rights cases.

The workshop established that there is a very strong link between the right to clean, safe and potable water and environmental rights as enshrined in the Constitution of Zimbabwe.