Tinaani Nyabereka / Yeukai Munetsi
Gweru- Stakeholders and residents of Gweru have expressed their commitment to assist and work hand in hand with Gweru City Council (GCC) in addressing water woes bedeviling the city.
The commitment was made during a water indaba held by Gweru Residents and Ratepayers Association (GRRA) under efforts to identify various factors which have been affecting water supply in the communities for years now.
Speaking at the meeting in the Midlands capital, Gweru Council Director for Engineering Services Praymore Mhlanga said council has already started working on various mechanisms and alternatives to supply water to the community despite the various challenges which were affecting effective pumping of water to residents.
“We have engaged various investors who are willing to assist in solar energy in line with investing in green energy.
“As the engineering department, we are under-staffed and as a result, we are then striving to cope with the pressure considering that demand for the precious liquid is now high.
We believe an integrated approach with all stakeholders will assist in reducing the burden of meeting service delivery demands,” said Mhlanga
A resident Florence Guzha said it was crucial for the local authority to work hand in hand with corporates in the province in averting some of the challenges.
“I want to say as residents and council, let us approach our corporates for the support we may need as well because our city is also made up of employees who work in big mining companies, industries to mention a few. We need to join forces together as various stakeholders and private players to see how best we can have other areas of concern addressed.
“We can approach one company and have pipes supplied, we can approach another and have pumps going on, but my main plea is that let’s then have a genuine heart when we engage the business community so that when they come to our aid, they can also see the situation as it is.
“Gweru’s image can only be resuscitated if Gweru council engages both private and public stakeholders and become one voice to mitigate the challenges being faced by the city,” she said.
Gweru Residents and Ratepayers Association Director, Cornelia Selipiwe said there was need for the community to find lasting solutions to water related challenges.
“Today we have come together to find lasting solutions, we need to work together to curb water scarcity and probably draw solutions which then can take the city to another level.
“We have all agreed that the main challenge to water scarcity is surfacing from the aging infrastructure and the rise in demand for clean water as the city continues to expand hence the most practical solution was an integrated approach,” he added.
Meanwhile Gweru Urban Member of Parliament, Brian Dube urged Gweru council to craft Statutory Instruments to help stir most decision making processes.
Residents also formed a seven-member committee to help council in spearheading service delivery engagement.
The committee is comprised of Civic Society Organization (CSOs), media, land developers, women organizations, councilors and resident associations.
