THE WATER crisis in Gwanda deepened over the weekend amid speculation that the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) has disconnected supplies to pressure the local authority to pay part of its $5 million debt resulting in Gwanda Provincial Hospital operating without water.
ALBERT NCUBE OWN CORRESPONDENT
Zinwa had resorted to water rationing since last week Saturday, pumping water from between 8am and 4pm.
Despite the town’s daily water consumption being 10 000 cubic meters, Zinwa had only been pumping 2 400 cubic meters a day.
High lying areas such as Spitzkop and Ultra High have not been receiving running water for a week now while most parts of the town have not had running water since Friday.
Zinwa is said to have given the Gwanda Municipality up to Friday to settle part of the debt or have supplies completely disconnected.
Residents of Phakama and Senondo and some parts of the central business district, including Gwanda Hospital, have been without water, forcing relatives of patients to carry buckets of water to the hospital when visiting them.
“We are forced to carry water when visiting our sick relatives at the hospital because there is no water here. The situation is really bad,” Tsepiso Mdlongwa said during the lunchtime visiting time.
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The cash-strapped council is in a dilemma after it was forced to write off a debt of $3,5 million owed by residents following a government directive.
Council has reportedly paid Zinwa only $2 000 in the past five months.
The move to write off debts owed by residents has crippled council operations as it is failing to pay its employees on time and garbage collection has been erratic.
Zinwa argued that it needs the money to buy purification chemicals such as chlorine which is quickly running out. Its employees have also not been paid.
There are fears that the critical water shortage may lead to an outbreak of water-borne diseases such as diarrhoea and cholera as residents are resorting to using the bush to relieve themselves.
Some residents have even resorted to drawing water from the nearby Mtshabezi River for use.
Efforts to get comment from both council and Zinwa were fruitless.
Gwanda town clerk Gilbert Mlilo was not answering his mobile phone while the Zinwa Umzingwane Catchment manager Tony Rosen’s mobile phone was not reachable.
