Beatific Gumbwanda
CHIREDZI –
Chiredzi Residents and Ratepayers Association (CHRRA) has petitioned Chiredzi
Town Council (CTC) to suspend town engineer Wesley Kauma over what they claim
to be his grossly incompetent handling of the water crisis in the town.
Chiredzi Residents and Ratepayers Association (CHRRA) has petitioned Chiredzi
Town Council (CTC) to suspend town engineer Wesley Kauma over what they claim
to be his grossly incompetent handling of the water crisis in the town.
CHRRA
has written to council asking for Kauma’s dismissal, saying the deteriorating
water situation in the town was largely a result of his making.
has written to council asking for Kauma’s dismissal, saying the deteriorating
water situation in the town was largely a result of his making.
The
residents organisation’s letter – addressed to council chairperson, town secretary
and councillors – attacks Kauma for the people’s failure to get optimum
services with regards to availability of water.
residents organisation’s letter – addressed to council chairperson, town secretary
and councillors – attacks Kauma for the people’s failure to get optimum
services with regards to availability of water.
CHRRA
argues that the town has suffered a lot due to water shortages and calls for
the suspension of the town engineer with full benefits pending investigations
into the water crisis.
argues that the town has suffered a lot due to water shortages and calls for
the suspension of the town engineer with full benefits pending investigations
into the water crisis.
“CHRRA
is writing to you and your office requesting the suspension of town engineer Mr
W. Kauma pending investigations with full benefits because of the following
reasons on water crisis in Chiredzi.
is writing to you and your office requesting the suspension of town engineer Mr
W. Kauma pending investigations with full benefits because of the following
reasons on water crisis in Chiredzi.
“1.
All 8 wards are affected by the unavailability of precious liquid. Residents
are suffering a lot and are putting their lives at risk when they scavenge for
the precious resource. 2. Vulnerable groups like women, the elderly and the
girl child are suffering a lot and are putting their lives at risk of being
raped, robbed and abused. 3. Children are being made to stand in queues for
more than 3-4 hours to access water at boreholes in these high temperatures.
All 8 wards are affected by the unavailability of precious liquid. Residents
are suffering a lot and are putting their lives at risk when they scavenge for
the precious resource. 2. Vulnerable groups like women, the elderly and the
girl child are suffering a lot and are putting their lives at risk of being
raped, robbed and abused. 3. Children are being made to stand in queues for
more than 3-4 hours to access water at boreholes in these high temperatures.
“4.
No water in ministries and institutions serving the public. 5. The engineer is
failing to come up with solutions to water challenges in Chiredzi. 6. The
outbreak of water-borne diseases is highly likely die to the flow of raw
sewage. 7. Tempering with water connections, e.g. a connection done at the
water tanks from a water works’ direct line. No feedback on the power
connection by Hippo Valley following our stakeholders meeting,” reads part
of the grievances.
No water in ministries and institutions serving the public. 5. The engineer is
failing to come up with solutions to water challenges in Chiredzi. 6. The
outbreak of water-borne diseases is highly likely die to the flow of raw
sewage. 7. Tempering with water connections, e.g. a connection done at the
water tanks from a water works’ direct line. No feedback on the power
connection by Hippo Valley following our stakeholders meeting,” reads part
of the grievances.
“CHRRA
is kindly proposing that investigation of the water crisis be done by a
consultant and if the engineer is cleared, he resumes his duties and if he is
found incompetent, he resigns,” the letter reads
is kindly proposing that investigation of the water crisis be done by a
consultant and if the engineer is cleared, he resumes his duties and if he is
found incompetent, he resigns,” the letter reads
Tongaat
Huletts, through Hippo Valley Estates connected its electricity cable at the
water works which later failed to pump water during power cuts as it requires a
transformer.
Huletts, through Hippo Valley Estates connected its electricity cable at the
water works which later failed to pump water during power cuts as it requires a
transformer.
When
contacted for comment, Kauma defended his record arguing that he was doing his
best to maintain optimum service delivery in the town.
contacted for comment, Kauma defended his record arguing that he was doing his
best to maintain optimum service delivery in the town.
He
attacked the resident organisation for allegedly failing to follow protocol in
expressing their grievances.
attacked the resident organisation for allegedly failing to follow protocol in
expressing their grievances.
“Maybe
the letter didn’t follow procedure because residents go through councillors, so
if they direct it to me, it will be of no purpose as I am also a resident
outside of work. Whenever there are political elections, council management is
the battleground, especially the engineer. It’s unfortunate that people think
that getting someone fired from his job gives mileage with the electorate.He
accused the residents’ organisation of calling him disparaging names which made
them open to ridicule.
the letter didn’t follow procedure because residents go through councillors, so
if they direct it to me, it will be of no purpose as I am also a resident
outside of work. Whenever there are political elections, council management is
the battleground, especially the engineer. It’s unfortunate that people think
that getting someone fired from his job gives mileage with the electorate.He
accused the residents’ organisation of calling him disparaging names which made
them open to ridicule.
“Imagine
a leader of a resident association calling me chikwambo (goblin). Who then will
take such people with reckless talk serious? Do we leave behind a water
infrastructure constructed in the 60s by the Smith regime and expect it to
function for eternity or we start somewhere, put new water works. That one from
1964 is old; the water pipes, asbestos pipes are outdated, they have
carcinogenic risks,” said Kauma.
a leader of a resident association calling me chikwambo (goblin). Who then will
take such people with reckless talk serious? Do we leave behind a water
infrastructure constructed in the 60s by the Smith regime and expect it to
function for eternity or we start somewhere, put new water works. That one from
1964 is old; the water pipes, asbestos pipes are outdated, they have
carcinogenic risks,” said Kauma.
