…As water woes mount in Gweru
Tinaani Nyabereka
Gweru- Residents in the Midlands province capital have called upon council to consider a reduction in the water charges following the on-going water crisis which continues to haunt the city.
Resident group Gweru Residents and Ratepayers Association (GRRA) have since written a letter titled ‘WATER CRISIS IN GWERU’ addressed to Gweru Mayor Hamutendi Kombayi on March 29, 2023 urging the local authority to consider slashing the bills.
“The water crisis is causing widespread discontent among residents of Gweru since most residents fear the spread of water borne diseases (cholera and typhoid) whilst, women and children are forced to walk miles to the nearest water sources for clean water.
“Moreover, with the increase in crime rate in the city, it poses too much risk for women and children to be fetching water early in the morning or late at night.
“As GRRA, we request: That every household in the city of Gweru be provided a 50% deduction on water charges for the month of March this year. What measures has your office put in place to ensure that residents access clean water?” read part of the letter.
Gweru City Council Public Relations Officer Vimbai Chingwaramusee said council was facing serious power cuts at Gwenhoro water treatment plant and Range booster.
“We are currently experiencing prolonged power cuts at Gwenhoro and Range booster and this is affecting our pumping capacity.
“Normally we require about 6-7 hours for us to pump enough water to high areas. As of now, low areas are the ones getting water because of the shortened time we are getting electricity. Efforts are being made to get around the problem as we have engaged the power utility and we hope things will improve,” said Chigwaramusee.
Gweru City Council has gone for close to a month with erratic water supply due continuous power cuts bedevilling the country.
Meanwhile government, local authorities in Midlands, ZESA and Civic Society Organisation recently converged at the Midlands State University to proffer solutions on the on-going water challenges.
The engagement was meant to look for other alternatives to provide power for local authorities to pump water to the community.
The acute water shortages come at a time the country is sitting on a ticking Cholera health bomb with several cases having been reported in various provinces while government has reiterated their preparedness to contain the looming epidemic.
