Zinwa’s Ngomahuru pumpstation in Tokwe River. The substation had, for the last few days, been heavily flooded.
TellZim Reporter
MASVINGO – Severe flooding recently experienced in southern parts of the country have left thousands of people in Masvingo and Midlands provinces without water as the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) frantically tries to replace damaged equipment.
Water supplies in areas like Mberengwa and Chivi have been disrupted by excessive rains that, in some cases, washed away pipes and submerged pumping houses.
Zinwa Runde Catchment operations manager, Engineer Jonathan Juma told TellZim News that his organisation has recorded cases of disruptions to its supply systems and was working hard to take corrective measures.
“Our teams are right on the ground trying to restore normal operations at all our pumping stations that have been affected by floods. We understand there are many people who have been affected by disruptions in water supply,” said Eng Juma.
He said the electric motor which pumps water to Mberengwa was last week heavily flooded and Zinwa technical staff had to go and retrieve, dry and put it back.
The pipeline was, however, washed away and it needs to be built anew, with plans in place to send a water bowser from Zvishavane to supply Mberengwa business centre, hospital and the prison services.
In Chivi, the growth point does not have water since the raw water pump house was flooded by a raging Runde River but the water in the pump house has since been drained-out and efforts are being made to restore supplies.
“We have a similar problem in Ngomahuru where the pump house which was built in the river bed being totally submerged. The water levels have significantly receded so we are going to retrieve the pumps, dry the motor and restore supplies to Ngomahuru hospital, Sese business centre, and Chibi Turn-Off,” Eng Juma said.
On February 26, he said, the raw water suction line at Muzhwi Dam was washed away thereby cutting off water supplies to parts of Mashava.
“Our workshop staff are on the ground to bring back everything back to order,” said Eng Juma.Local
