…. report late for work everyday, at times without bathing
….learners at risk as there is no portable water at school
By Brighton Chiseva
ZAKA – Teachers at Mukwirimba Primary School in Zaka have to queue from 2am everyday for water from an unprotected well, which is their only source, with three other villages.
Both learners and teachers from the school have their health hanging by a thread as the school has no portable water forcing learning activities to delay almost on daily basis as the teachers have to fetch water for domestic use from the unprotected well.
Sometimes the teachers have to return from the water point which is a few kilometres away from the school without the precious liquid, forcing them to report for duty without bathing due to water challenges, as they often get the chance to fetch the water only after 6am despite queuing for hours.
The school borehole, which used to be their water source is said to be pumping rusty water that cannot be used for any domestic use.
School head Matorevhu Haruzivishe confirmed the situation but could not comment further saying he was not allowed to speak to the media.
“Yes we have a water crisis here and we are trying our best to address the situation. However, I cannot comment further as we are not allowed to speak to the media,” said Haruzivishe.
Zaka District Schools Inspector Samson Chidzurira also confirmed the situation saying he saw a post on social media and went on to enquire from the school. He said he was going to refer the matter to the water and sanitation subcommittee and the school would be added to a list of those that require assistance once resources are availed.
Mauta Village Head Musiiwa Mauta in whose village the school is located confirmed the sad reality and called for immediate action from authorities saying if the situation persists, the school may be forced to close.
“Last week Friday, teachers reported for work around 9 am and they had failed to get water from the well. The well is overwhelmed because three villages are using the same water point so there is competition and they are forced to wake up around 2 am to go queue at the well.
“The school borehole which villagers also relied on is pumping rusty water that is not fit for human consumption,” said Mauta.
He went on to say that the problem started last year and some teachers had their valuables stolen from their quarters after they had gone to the well in the wee hours.
He said three villages with a combined number of 140 households relied on the sole water point.
“The problem is a result of the low rainfall we have been receiving over the past years. Last year teachers from the same school lost cellphones and laptops to thieves who broke into their houses after they had gone to fetch water around 3 am.
“The well is currently watering three villages namely Mauta, Mauto and Tafirei with a combined total of 140 households excluding the teachers and their families. We call for the authorities to immediately intervene and save the situation before we record a disaster because the alternative source is Turwi River bordering Zaka and Bikita districts, which is about 5 kilometers from the school,” said Mauta.
A villager, Menford Mukodzi who also stays near the school said the situation was heart-rending as learners were being forced to bring water to school for drinking, and those who cannot end up drinking the rusty borehole water.
“Learners have to carry water to school and at times they fail because there will be none to carry from home. As kids at times when they are thirsty they end up sneaking during lessons and drink the rusty borehole water; we are worried over their health,” said Mukodzi.
One teacher who spoke anonymously said the situation was unbearable for villagers and worse for teachers whom he said at times spend more time at the well only to return home with empty buckets.
“People are struggling and the situation is even worse for us. We go to the well very early only to find a long queue of buckets from villagers and at times we return without any water as we will be rushing to get to work on time. At times we are forced to report for duty without bathing,” said the teacher.
Ward 5 Councillor Livison Makwanye who lives a few kilometres from the school said he was not aware of the situation and said he only got to know about it when TellZim News posted it on social media platform X.
“I am not aware of the situation. I only got to know after your post and people started asking me about it. I have since tried to get hold of the school head but he is not reachable,” Makwanye said.
Zaka North MP Ophias Murambiwa who chairs the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Education also said he was not aware of the situation at the school but promised to look into it to find possible solutions.
“I wasn’t aware of the situation at that school and I’m only learning about it from you. I will enquire and see how best we can help them. However, that situation is not unique to that school as most schools have the same situation in Zaka North,” Murambiwa said.
Mukwirimba is located in a mountain range and usually receives normal to above-normal rainfall. The area also has a lot of indigenous Mukute, Mushuku and Muchakata trees which are synonymous with marshy areas. Due to the El Nino-induced drought however, the area received low rainfall leading to the water table going further down.
