Councils seek to take over water provision

In an interview on Thursday, UCAZ president Alderman Femius Chakabuda, who is also the Mayor for Masvingo, said urban councils were unhappy with the provision of water by central government through the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa).
“We are not happy that Zinwa is still running water services in urban councils such as Gwanda, Beitbridge, Karoi, Plumtree, Hwange, Gokwe and Lupane. We have engaged the Government over the issue and we are waiting for its response,” he said.
Alderman Chakabuda accused Zinwa of failing to provide efficient service in towns where it was running water services. He said his association had assisted some local authorities with treatment chemicals after Zinwa had failed to do so.
“That is unfair because local authorities are being ripped off. We do not understand the Government on this issue and we say the time has come for Zinwa to hand over water to us.
“Why should the Government continue to embarrass itself on issues that councils can provide? When Zinwa took over the running of water from us they claimed they had better capacity but results on the ground prove that they have failed dismally,” said Alderman Chakabuda.
“We appeal to our parent Ministry of Local Government, Rural and Urban Development to remind its sister Ministry of Water Resources Management and Development to hand over this service to us.
“Zinwa has failed to repair equipment that was left by us when they took over. As local authorities we have the capacity to run water services in our respective areas.”
Contacted for comment the Minister of Water Resources Management and Development, Samuel Sipepa Nkomo said he was not aware of any engagements by UCAZ over the issue. He only acknowledged receiving an application to take over water services from Plumtree Town Council.
“I am not aware of any urban council that has applied to us to take over water services. The policy on this issue is simple and it is that we need to be satisfied that urban councils seeking to take over the running of water have the capacity and ability to do so.
“The only town that has written to us is Plumtree and I received their communication in December. They have indicated that they are ready to run water treatment and distribution,” said Minister Sipepa Nkomo.
“We will appoint a commission that will determine whether this council is indeed able to run the service. To just hand over water to those that have not written to us would be an act of irresponsibility on our part.
“Some of them are not even ready to do that and they are even failing to pay Zinwa for the service. Once they are ready we will give them the service.”
Minister Sipepa Nkomo said urban councils seeking to take over the running of water should fulfill certain requirements that include having qualified staff such as engineers and environmentalists.
“They should have qualified personnel; this is the engineers, the environmentalists and the ability to collect the revenue. Ninety percent of the urban councils are running their water and as a ministry we have the guidelines that regulate our operations,” said Minister Sipepa Nkomo.
Water is a major source of revenue for most urban councils.