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Mashudu Netsianda, Senior Reporter
THERE was a circus yesterday when the Minister of Water Resources Development and Management, Dr Samuel Sipepa Nkomo abruptly cancelled the commissioning of the Mtshabezi water pipeline by Deputy Prime Minister, Ms Thokozani Khupe. Embarrassingly, Dr Sipepa Nkomo cancelled the event when Ms Khupe, senior officials from the Ministry of Water Resources Development and Management and invited guests among them journalists had already gathered at the site to witness the occasion.
Dr Sipepa Nkomo had to hold an impromptu onsite Press Conference in a bid to spruce up his image following the bungling.
In an interview, Dr Sipepa Nkomo attributed the development to technical problems encountered by the engineers in the connection of electricity to power the pumps.
He blamed Zanu-PF supporters and Bulawayo Metropolitan Governor, Cde Cain Mathema of deliberately “sabotaging” his party ahead of elections.
“The Deputy Prime Minister failed to commission the Mtshabezi pipeline because Cain Mathema and people from his party, Zanu-PF came to the site yesterday and disconnected the powerline in an act of sabotage. The project was spearheaded by an MDC-T minister and they are not happy with that.
“We could not go ahead with commissioning because there was no power. Our engineers are now busy trying to trace where the line was cut,” he said.
Local traditional leaders had initially warned the Ministry of Water Resources Development and Management against commissioning the pipeline without consulting them.
The headman for Kumbuzi, Mr Mann Nkala yesterday said the local leadership was not consulted about the planned commissioning.
He expressed concern over the move by the Ministry of Water saying it was against their customs.
“They should have consulted us first before deciding to commission the Mtshabezi pipeline. As traditional leaders, we are the custodians of culture and usually there is a need to first perform certain rituals because the pipeline was laid on our shrines.
“Last time we warned the relevant authorities that they should first talk to us but they defied us resulting in one of the workers dying after he was buried alive while digging the trenches. It is important to respect other people’s cultures, customs and beliefs because this is our place and it belongs to our ancestors and they are angry because we did not appease them,” he said.
MDC-T’s attempts to use the Mtshabezi pipeline project to gain political mileage ahead of the forthcoming harmonised elections on 31 July has angered Bulawayo and Matabeleland South Governors, Cdes Mathema and Angeline Masuku who have warned the party against seeking credit over what does not belong to it.
The laying of the 41km pipeline from Mtshabezi Dam to Umzingwane Dam was completed last October but the city could not draw water from the dam at full throttle because the pipeline was not electrified.
Engineers had to resort to using generators, which did not have the capacity to power the pumps continuously.
The Mtshabezi pipeline is expected to supply about 17 000 cubic metres of water to Bulawayo daily, which will reduce water shedding by 24 hours.
The Mtshabezi project has missed several deadlines and residents of Bulawayo, including the city fathers, have lost hope of ever getting supplies from Mtshabezi Dam.
Online Reporter