…villagers travel 5km in search for network, water
By Staff Reporter
BIKITA – Bikita South legislator Energy Mutodi and the Minister of Information, Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services (ICTPCS) Tatenda Mavetera are being accused of betraying President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s efforts to leave no one and no place behind amid reports that Bikita South villagers walk as far as five kilometers in search of mobile network and clean safe water for domestic use.
Villagers from Ward 27 in Odzi, Chief Mabika’s are often disconnected from the rest of the country and the world as they have no mobile network, and they have to travel more than 4km in order to get erratic connection and clean safe water for their domestic chores.
Odzi Business Centre, with over 30 shops, grinding mills, and food vendors, is crippled by a total absence of cellular network and a perennial water crisis.
When TellZim News visited the area, the crew experienced the sad reality and the burden that comes with being a Bikita South villager; this sharply contradicts the promises of inclusive development by the second republic.
Speaking to TellZim News, one villager from Muzongomerwa Village, Taruvinga Nyama, said they miss important announcements such as funerals due to network challenges.
“We have to travel long distances to get network so we cannot do that frequently, as such we end up missing important messages about funerals, illness or other developments that need urgent attention,” said Nyama.
Another resident from Neguvhe Village told TellZim News that locals no longer carry their phones when they are moving around as there is virtually no network.
“I see you have phones, we don’t travel with ours anymore. If you need network, you have to travel about four to five kilometres to Chenjere area or Mukuti area, so why should I carry it every day?
“We are appealing to the government and other responsible authorities to intervene and save the situation which is affecting social life as well as our children who often need connection for their studies,” he said.
Contacted for comment by TellZim News, Bikita South legislator Energy Mutodi gave a mixed response, appearing unaware of the water issue while acknowledging the network problem was beyond his direct capacity.
“Isn’t there a borehole at the shopping Centre? I did not know it was condemned, the councilor did not tell me.
“They should tell the councilor who would bring the report to me as well as council so that we find a solution,” said Mutodi.
On the network challenge, he said it was a large scale infrastructural issue that required government intervention.
“I know of the challenge but that’s beyond an MP, I cannot address that with my own resources, there is need for government intervention and the network service providers. This is not peculiar to our area only, it’s a national problem.
“Minister Mavetera is aware, she promised us to address the challenge in our area and others and we are still waiting.”
Residents who spoke to TellZim News with regards to water challenges said at the local shop they pay a dollar to get water from the local church.
‘We used to have a borehole here but it was condemned by council saying the water was contaminated by blair toilets we have here. So now we often travel long distances or get it from the church up there. However, we have to pay a dollar to get access,” said the resident.
The water scarcity extends beyond the shopping centre. Another resident from Neguvhe area said the water challenge was affecting many villages and they often travel for 2 or more kilometres to get water.
The local said they often get water from the local school borehole which is not ideal under normal circumstances as that arrangement affect the school’s supply.
“The water challenges not only affected the business centre but Neguvhe village and other surrounding areas saying they travel 2 kilometres to get water from Neguvhe Primary School,” said the resident.
The community members also raised the issue of siltation in the local dam, which he said affects both locals and livestock during the dry season.
Villagers called upon authorities to help desilt the dam and said they were ready to provide labor and other services in the process.
Contacted for comment, Bikita RDC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Arnold Mtuke said he was not aware of the water challenge at Odzi Business Centre.
On her part, the local councilor Rodah Makaza confirmed the condemnation of the borehole which she said only provides water for other uses like gardening. She however said the business centre relied on the church borehole but said she wasn’t aware that people were paying.
“It’s true, the borehole was condemned, it’s now being used for other uses like gardening, however, we were relieved when the church sunk its own borehole and I didn’t know that people were paying. I will engage the business community chairperson and see how we can address the challenge,” said Makaza.
On the issue of network, Makaza who is also Odzi High School head, which is less than a kilometer from the business centre, said as a school they relied on Stalink WIFI which they opened to the community but it was not enough since it’s not all issues that can be dealt via WhatsApp.
“We use Starlink WiFi at the school and we have opened it to the community, however, not all issues can be done on WhatsApp and also not everyone has a smart phone especially in rural areas. So the network issue is really a challenge here,” she said.
