Online Reporter
Conrad Mupesa
Mashonaland West Bureau
CHEGUTU Municipality is intensifying efforts to ensure a reliable water supply for residents despite persistent infrastructure and pumping challenges, Mayor Councillor Rydes Machekera has said.
Clr Machekera recently revealed that the local authority was committed to investing in water delivery systems while also introducing prepaid water meters to improve revenue collection and the sustainability of services.
The town receives raw water from the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA), which is pumped from Pool Dam to Clifton Dam, a distance of about 1.5 kilometres, before it is pumped over 24 kilometres to the Chegutu Water Purification Plant, which is now under council control.
However, the mayor said the process remains fraught with operational difficulties, particularly around ageing infrastructure and maintenance delays.
The council pumps at least 8 megalitres instead of the required 16 per day for the entire town.
“One of the major challenges we face is the slow response in maintaining critical infrastructure, especially pipelines and pump stations,” he said.
“When breakdowns occur, the burden falls on the municipality to carry out repairs so that we continue supplying water to residents throughout the year.”
Despite these setbacks, the council has maintained a steady supply of water and is working around the clock to minimise disruptions.
Clr Machekera said the municipality has, since November, managed to pump about 40 percent of the required water into its system, a notable improvement from last year’s 27 percent.
“Even last year’s 27 percent supply managed to take us through to the end of November, and this year we are in a better position,” he said.
He emphasised that the local authority remained committed to ensuring that water was available to residents regardless of the pumping challenges being experienced.
“As council, we are making every effort to ensure that water continues to reach our communities. When pumps break down, we step in immediately to carry out repairs because we have a mandate to deliver water consistently,” he said.
To improve efficiency and curb losses, the municipality intends to roll out prepaid water meters across the entire town, with suppliers conducting a pilot project before the tendering process.
“The introduction of prepaid water meters will help us enhance revenue collection and ensure that the water system remains sustainable. This will, in turn, allow us to reinvest in infrastructure and improve service delivery,” said Cllr Machekera.
Meanwhile, the mayor raised concerns over outstanding payments owed to the municipality by the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA).
He said the council supplies water to Jason Ziyaphapha Moyo Air Force Base, but ZINWA is responsible for collecting revenue.
“Our role is to pump and deliver water, but the revenue is collected by ZINWA. Currently, about US$1,1 million has been collected, but it has not yet been remitted to the municipality,” he said.
Clr Machekera said settling the debt would go a long way in supporting the municipality’s efforts to upgrade infrastructure and improve water supply services.
However, efforts to get a comment from ZINWA’s public relations and communication manager, Ms Marjorie Munyonga, had not responded to questions sent to her for the parastatal’s side of the story.
