Centenary residents endure six-day water crisis as Zinwa faces billing complaints

CENTENARY residents have gone for six consecutive days without running water as persistent supply disruptions by the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) continue to frustrate the community, amid growing concerns over disputed bills and frequent breakdowns.

Centenary Residents Association chairman Gift Sibiya said residents were increasingly frustrated by recurring water shortages, with supplies rarely lasting more than three consecutive days before another interruption.

He said the situation had deteriorated further, leaving households without water for six days despite assurances from Zinwa that electricity payment problems affecting pumping operations had been resolved.

"We are experiencing persistent water challenges in Centenary. It has become a routine that we get water for about three days before experiencing four days of breakdowns. Now we have gone for six consecutive days without water," Sibiya said.

"Zinwa's explanation was that there was no electricity because they had not paid for electricity tokens. It was only on November 11 that they acknowledged having paid for the tokens, but up to now, nothing is coming out of the taps."

Sibiya said Zinwa had also attributed the water shortages to outstanding bills owed by residents, but claimed that nearly 90 percent of the community disputed the alleged arrears.

He questioned the accuracy and transparency of the authority's billing system, saying several residents, including prominent businesspeople, had their water supplies disconnected over charges they considered excessive.

According to Sibiya, even the local councillor had reportedly been disconnected over disputed water bills.

"The billing system is another major concern. Zinwa says residents owe it money, but almost 90 percent of residents are disputing those bills. Some businesspeople have had their water disconnected because of what they regard as excessive bills. Even our local councillor has faced the same situation," he said.

Sibiya said residents had repeatedly appealed to Zinwa to introduce prepaid water meters to improve billing transparency, eliminate disputes and ensure consumers paid according to their actual water consumption.

However, he accused the authority of repeatedly making promises without implementing the proposed system.

The crisis has been compounded by the prevailing heatwave, which has increased demand for water and placed additional pressure on the area's only available borehole.

Sibiya said the borehole was struggling to meet demand, forcing some desperate residents to collect water from unprotected sources.

He warned that the situation posed serious public health risks, particularly to children, who could be exposed to waterborne diseases.

"With the current heatwave, the only borehole we have is overwhelmed. People are now resorting to collecting water from unprotected sources, which puts their lives, especially those of children, at risk," he said.

Residents have appealed to Zinwa to urgently restore reliable water supplies and provide lasting solutions to recurring breakdowns, electricity-related interruptions and disputed billing.

Sibiya said the community wanted a sustainable solution rather than temporary interventions that failed to address the underlying problems.

Contacted for comment, Zinwa spokesperson Tsungirirai Shoriwa neither confirmed nor denied the residents' allegations, saying he was out of the office and would respond the following day.