NORMAL water supplies were restored in Gwanda on Friday after Transport minister Obert Mpofu paid $46 000 to the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) on behalf of the Gwanda Town Council.
ALBERT NCUBE OWN CORRESPONDENT
Scores of Gwanda residents who spoke to Southern Eye expressed relief at the resumption of normal water supplies after going for two weeks without running water.
“It has been a difficult two weeks for us as we were being forced to spend most of our time searching and queueing for water but now that it is available, we can turn our attention to other things,” said Moreblessing Nkala of Ultra-High suburb.
The situation had posed a serious health risk as most residents had resorted to using the bush to relieve themselves.
Investigations by Southern Eye over the weekend revealed that the worst affected of Spitzkop and Ultra-High had running water for the first time in a fortnight.
The Gwanda Town Council resolved at a full special council meeting last week to sell a commercial stand to Mpofu in a desperate bid to raise $46 000 that Zinwa was demanding before it could restore normal water supplies.
Council owes Zinwa $5 million. The $46 000 Mpofu paid to Zinwa was deposit for the commercial stand valued at $90 000 he purchased from council. The money was reportedly deposited straight into the Zinwa account on Thursday.
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However, Southern Eye could not immediately establish whether Mpofu had paid for the stand in full or he had only paid the deposit.
Contacted for comment, Gwanda town clerk Gilbert Mlilo said he was unable to talk as he driving. “I am driving and approaching a roadblock,” said Mlilo.
Council had remained mum on the water crisis until Mpofu came into the picture. Zinwa had resorted to water rationing to pressure the local authority to honour its debt payment after council had reportedly paid only $2 000 in the last five months raising the ire of the water authority.
After the latest debacle, the Zanu PF-led council has now resolved to remit 70% of all revenue it collects from water bills to Zinwa to reduce its debt.
The decision to remit 70% of revenue collected from water bills is set to further compound council problems as it has to operate from hand to mouth due to dire financial constraints.
A government directive to write off debts of $3,5 million owed to council by residents has crippled council operations with workers going for months without salaries while garbage collection has been erratic and also posing a health risk.
