By Brighton Chiseva
While the country is grappling with the Cholera crisis, with Masvingo being reported to have several hotspots, a disaster is looming at Chifedza Clinic in Ward 15 of Chivi District as the health facility has for months been running without water.
The clinic, which is about 20 kilometers from Chibi Growth Point and has an estimated catchment of 4500 people, has been operating without water for some time now after the pump that was used to draw water from a nearby borehole broke down and is yet to be repaired.
Sources said Chifedza Clinic had been operating without water supplies since July 2023, at the peak of harmonized election campaigns, a situation that has forced patients and waiting mothers to bring water from their communities in the adverse hot weather conditions.
“Water supplies have become so dire in the times of the Cholera outbreak in the District and the clinic’s catchment area. A lot of water is needed to disinfect floors, concurrent disinfection of linen and washing of hands as clients enter and exit premises but there is none.
“There was panic when a cholera case was reported at the clinic; after the report DDF and Chivi RDC staff members visited the clinic to assess the water situation but no tangible action has been taken so far,” said one villager
Another source said neighboring community members were trying their best by supplying water but it was not enough to meet the need and said the councilor and MP were letting people down.
The challenge since last year was necessitated by substandard pipes and recently the pump that was left operating in the open due to poor workmanship broke down.
Chibi Rural District Council (RDC) Chief Executive Officer Tariro Matavire confirmed the crisis and said they were running around as a local authority and they hoped the problem would be addressed within two weeks.
“The pump that was being used at Chifedza Clinic broke down and currently the clinic is getting water from a nearby secondary school borehole.
“We have people on the ground right now and we are in the process of installing a new pump and I am confident that after two weeks the problem will have been resolved,” said Matavire.
Local Councillor Albert Meke said the problem was persisting and confirmed that council employees were on the ground assessing the situation and said the challenge was that the pump that was there had more power compared to the pipes hence there were continuous pipe bursts.
“There is a crisis at Chifedza and from what I heard from the council, continuous pipe bursts were being caused by the fact that the pump that was there was more powerful than the pipes because the pipes were laid some time ago but the pump was later changed.
“I don’t stay close to the clinic though to understand how the people are coping but the council is on it now so I am sure the problem will be addressed soon,” Meke said.
The waiting shade at the clinic was also blown off by winds in November 2022, and patients have to sit under tree shades whilst waiting for service.
