Disease outbreak looms as Zvishavane water is cut off

Patrick Chitumba Midlands Bureau Chief
THE Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) has cut water supplies to Zvishavane Town Council over an outstanding $129,000 debt, exposing thousands of residents to possible diseases.

Zinwa acting corporate communications and marketing manager, Tsungirirai Shoriwa confirmed the development.

Zvishavane has more than 43,000 residents.

“The Zimbabwe National Water Authority today disconnected water supplies to Zvishavane Town Council. This follows the local authority’s failure to pay Zinwa $129,767,35 for raw water Zinwa supplied to the council from Palawani Dam,” Shoriwa said.

He said the disconnection of water supplies to the town is part of measures the water authority is taking to recover more than $100 million it is owed by various consumers among them local authorities, farmers, government departments, agricultural estates and mines.

As a result of this non-payment of bills, he said Zinwa’s operations have been adversely affected with the authority facing difficulties in procuring critical spares and water treatment chemicals.

Shoriwa said Zinwa was also facing challenges in repairing and maintaining water infrastructure.

“The authority is also having difficulties meeting its statutory obligations such as the payment of salaries, taxes and levies. Zinwa urges all consumers who owe the Authority to take practical steps to settle their debts or to approach their respective Zinwa offices and present acceptable payment plans. The authority reiterates that service can only be guaranteed if consumers pay their bills,” he said.

Zvishavane Town secretary, Tino Mukutu said they were working to ensure that services were restored as soon as possible.

He said they were shocked by Zinwa’s move considering that they had agreed to offset the water debt with residential stands.

“Council and Zinwa agreed that we offset the debt with residential stands for its workers. We actually got a council resolution to that effect and it was our understanding that we only owed Zinwa $20,000 after giving them some stands,” he said.