DESPITE supply dams being at almost full capacity, Gweru continues to face water problems as result of ageing pumps, a city council official has said. STEPHEN CHADENGA OWN CORRESPONDENT
According to Ward 4 councillor Kenneth Sithole, Gweru’s main water supply dams Gwenoro and Amapongokwe are at 98% capacity but taps in most parts of the city continue to run dry regularly because of pump problems.
Sithole was responding to queries by residents who wanted the local authority to justify the once-off $20 pump levy at a Federation of Africa Media Women in Zimbabwe community engagement meeting in Gweru last Friday.
“Our dams might be full, but the pumping is a problem. We have obsolete pumps, some of which we have been in use for more than 30 years,” Sithole said
“At Gwenoro we have three pumps, but one pump operates at a time. If we could have all the three pumps operating, water could be accessed by all parts of the city.”
Sithole appealed to residents to pay the pump levy saying it was in the interest of enhancing service delivery.
In April, residents’ associations resisted council’s move to pay the once-off $20 pump levy saying they were consulted and should be paid out in instalments.
Sithole said there were a lot of breakdowns as a result of old water equipment causing serious pumping difficulties.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
Last week, the city’s northern suburbs went for a week without water after a pipe burst.
