Struggle for water in Rujecko, Masvingo
Panashe
Nchenamilo
Nchenamilo
Water has become one of Masvingo’s most prized commodities with
wealthy suburbs like Rhodene going for three days without any drop while
low-income suburbs like Rujeko being the worst off,
wealthy suburbs like Rhodene going for three days without any drop while
low-income suburbs like Rujeko being the worst off,
Long lines of buckets and water containers can often be seen
at community boreholes as boreholes have become the only source of water for
all communities.
at community boreholes as boreholes have become the only source of water for
all communities.
There have been stories of physical fights breaking out in
the tense struggles for water and according to witnesses, police officers have
had to step in to restore order on a number of occasions.
the tense struggles for water and according to witnesses, police officers have
had to step in to restore order on a number of occasions.
Even though the situation is tough, some people have started
to make a living out of this crisis by manually pumping water into buckets and
selling it.
to make a living out of this crisis by manually pumping water into buckets and
selling it.
“I sell water to people who are not able to wait in the
queue. I can earn about $12 or more per day. I am able to take care of my
family with that money but the only challenge is I have to get to the borehole
at midnight to secure a place in the queue” said man makes a life out of the
water shortages.
queue. I can earn about $12 or more per day. I am able to take care of my
family with that money but the only challenge is I have to get to the borehole
at midnight to secure a place in the queue” said man makes a life out of the
water shortages.
TellZim News interviewed a woman who shares a house with her
extended family and she expressed her frustration.
extended family and she expressed her frustration.
“It’s reality, but a painful one. We are used to living
without running water. My husband, my two children and I use only two rooms at
the back of the house. We have 15 plastic buckets and one 200-litre water
container.
without running water. My husband, my two children and I use only two rooms at
the back of the house. We have 15 plastic buckets and one 200-litre water
container.
“My sister and her family has six buckets, 11
containers and two 200-litre drums. My children don’t know what it’s like to
take a shower. The city council has not done enough to solve this crisis,”
she said.
containers and two 200-litre drums. My children don’t know what it’s like to
take a shower. The city council has not done enough to solve this crisis,”
she said.
Masvingo experiences regular water shortages because the
public supplier lacks funds to treat water and has also been unable to maintain
its water pumps at Bush Mead abstraction station.
public supplier lacks funds to treat water and has also been unable to maintain
its water pumps at Bush Mead abstraction station.
The pumps often break down and the aging pipe network
experiences intermittent bursts, leading to treated water getting lost.
experiences intermittent bursts, leading to treated water getting lost.
