Chronicle Editor
Faith Ndlovu, Sunday News Reporter
WITH Bulawayo grappling with a severe water scarcity that has left many residents without access to water for weeks at a time, the situation is even worse in the city’s oldest suburbs, particularly Makokoba and Mzilikazi.
The ongoing crisis is hitting the elderly the hardest, as many are now too frail to make the trek to council boreholes in search of water.
The situation is made dire by frequent power outages, leaving many without electricity or other means of securing water.
Some youths from Mzilikazi have since taken advantage of this situation by offering to fetch water from boreholes for a fee.
While this service provides a temporary solution for those unable to collect water on their own, it has raised concerns about the exploitation of vulnerable residents.
Many elderly individuals, who often rely on family support, are now faced with the dilemma of paying for water collection or risking dehydration and health complications.
In an interview, one of the youths, Mr Tendai Masamba said the prices for their services were determined by the load, revealing that they use a scotch cart to transport the water buckets from the borehole to the recipients’ houses.
“We charge US$1 for three buckets, five rand for a single bucket and the whole load of eight buckets is US$3.The demand is high especially from Monday to Thursday when there is no water in the suburb,” he said.
Mr Masamba claimed that the support that they were getting from families in Mzilikazi, around Thokozani Flats, was amazing and it has kept them busy as youths, distancing them from bad activities such as drug abuse.
“This water vending job has been a lifesaver, I’m able to provide for my family’s basic needs, serving as the primary breadwinner. This includes supporting my 102-year-old grandmother and my siblings’ children. Specifically, I’m able to put food on the table and cover my grandmother’s essential medication costs,” he said.
Mrs Lizzie Masamba, a respected 102-year-old elder in the community, expressed heartfelt appreciation for the selfless work of her grandson.
“As a senior, I struggle to carry heavy water buckets from distant sources. But now, clean water is delivered right to my doorstep, ending my worries about access,” she said.
Mrs Maina Siwela, an 86-year-old resident of Mzilikazi suburb, praised the value of youth involvement in the community.
“As an elderly person, I struggle to travel long distances for water. I’m grateful that these young entrepreneurs provide water for me and my grandchildren, who need it daily. Their service is a blessing,” Mrs Siwela remarked.
“Water shortages bring immense hardship to our community especially to us the elders, without access to this essential resource, daily tasks become impossible.”
Bulawayo is currently going through one of its worst water crisis with the local authority implementing a 130-hour water shedding schedule, to preserve the water still available within its supply dams.
Online Reporter