Online Reporter
Rutendo Nyeve, Victoria Falls Bureau
BINGA Town faces a critical water crisis as numerous suburbs have gone for over three weeks without running water, prompting fears of a potential outbreak of water-borne diseases and forcing residents to resort to the crocodile-infested Zambezi River for supplies.
The affected suburbs include Kani, Filyambembe, Siyamanyanga, Mount View, Siankukhu, and Malila.
A representative of the Binga District Residents Association, Mr Mayasi Mudenda, confirmed the dire situation, attributing it to a combination of power outages and a breakdown in the water pumping system.
Mr Mudenda stated that some suburbs had endured water shortages for as long as three weeks, leaving residents with no alternative but to resort to unsafe water sources.
“I can confirm that we have been experiencing water challenges recently, with the worst-affected areas going for up to three weeks without any supply. The problem, we understand, has been compounded by electrical faults and pump breakdowns.
“When there is no power, Zinwa (Zimbabwe National Water Authority) is unable to pump water, and the reservoirs are not sufficient to sustain the town during extended outages. Although we understand the electrical faults have been resolved, a breakdown at the ZInwa low-lift pump station has exacerbated the situation. It has now been six days since the pump failed, following earlier power issues that interrupted supply,” said Mr Mudenda.
He warned that the situation was fast becoming a health hazard, with some residents resorting to open defecation due to the lack of water.
“The nearest water source is the Zambezi River, which is infested with crocodiles and hippos, posing a serious risk to the community. Some residents are now purchasing water at US$1 for three buckets, which is expensive and unsustainable,” Mr Mudenda said.
He urged the relevant authorities to act swiftly to resolve the crisis, noting that the reopening of schools could be severely impacted if the issue remains unresolved.
Binga District Development Co-ordinator, Mr Land Siansole Kabome, said his office had engaged Zinwa, who confirmed they were working to resolve the matter.
“We have been experiencing water challenges for a few days, and I have since engaged Zinwa, who informed me that a new pump has been sourced. I have not yet received further updates regarding the installation progress or when pumping will resume,” said Mr Kabome.
Zinwa had requested written questions on Monday and had not responded by yesterday.
However, sources close to the authority acknowledged the water supply challenges in the district but disputed claims that residents had been without water for weeks, insisting the problem had only persisted for a few days. — @nyeve14
