By Staff Reporter
Residents and businesses at Jerera Growth Point in Zaka District are enduring a two-week crisis marked by a complete blackout and severe water shortages, crippling economic activity and daily life.
The sustained absence of these essential services has hit the commercial hub particularly hard, with businesses reliant on refrigeration and electricity-bearing the brunt of the collapse.
Ward 19 (Jerera) Councilor Albert Mazvanya confirmed the crisis, stating that he had written to the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) over the matter but had not received a satisfactory response.
“We are in a crisis, both water and power outage are affecting local residents and businesses. I once wrote a letter to ZINWA over the matter but no solution has been proffered,” said Mazvanya.
He attributed the water challenges to old infrastructure that he said does not match the ever growing population even when power is available.
“The pumps and pipes are very old and can nolonger meet the demand. The population increase every day and ZINWA is failing even to connect new houses to the main water supply. In most cases only those in low lying areas get water and the pipes burst everyday” said Mazvanya.
He went on to say he at some point suggested that ZINWA levies residents to purchase requirements to upgrade existing infrastructure and said many residents were ready for that.
“I once suggested that they levy us so that they get funds to buy critical infrastructure equipment and solve the crisis for good,” said Mazvanya.
Contacted by TellZim News for comment, ZINWA’s spokesperson, Obert Muchena acknowledged the sad development and said it was mainly caused by power outages which was restored and said they expected supply any time.
“Regrettably, it is true that our valued clients in Jerera have been facing water supply challenges. This situation is largely a result of the fact that, for a couple of weeks, we have not been able to operate our water treatment plant at the optimum level due to inadequate power supply.
“Fortunately, the power situation has since improved and therefore, we expect to start seeing a resumption of normal service delivery in the coming days.” Said Muchena.
Contacted for comment, Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) Eastern Region General Manager Milton Munodawafa referred TellZim News to the power company’s spokesperson Dr George Manyaya whose cell was unavailable by the time of publishing.
The water challenges have forced resident to queue at few boreholes dotted around the growth point while others rely on open ponds left by the rains.
Businesses selling drinks, ice cream, butchered meat, and other perishables were among those affected by the power challenges.
Larger shops are struggling with unsustainable backup costs, finding that running generators is too fuel-intensive and solar systems are compromised by the ongoing rainy season.
The crisis extends to welders, smelters, and other artisans whose livelihoods are entirely electricity dependent, while vendors crowded at the main market operate without basic water for sanitation.
