Director suspended over poor water quality

Sharon Chimenya, Masvingo Correspondent
MASVINGO City Council has with immediate effect suspended its director of Engineering Services Mr Tawanda Gozo due to the deterioration in the quality and quantity of water to city residents.

In a letter written by acting Town Clerk, Engineer Edward Mukaratirwa dated 5 February 2021, the suspension was in terms of section 140(3) and section 140(7)(a) of the Urban Councils Act Chapter 29:15.

“Please be advised that I have suspended you from office of Director of Engineering Services with immediate effect following the deterioration in the quantity and quality of water being supplied to the city from early December 2020 to date.

Your suspension is valid for a period of six months or until the council has made a decision on the case, whichever comes sooner. During this suspension period, you will not be receiving your salary benefits,” read part of the letter.

Contacted for a comment Eng Mukaratirwa confirmed that he had written the letter suspending the director.

Council is struggling to provide water to all parts of the city following a transformer breakdown at its Bushmead Waterworks and has since introduced water shedding.

Residents have been complaining over the quality of water council has been supplying in most suburbs.

“Some residents have been relying on the rains as they are harvesting water from their rooftops and boreholes around the city.

Meanwhile, following the transformer breakdown at Bushmead Waterworks the pumping capacity in the city has been reduced to 50 percent.

The local authority under normal circumstances is able to provide 30 mega litres a day which has now being reduced to around 15 mega litres per day to the whole city.