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Herald Reporter
The Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) has assured stakeholders and residents in Beitbridge that there is enough water supply to cater for the border town.
In a statement, Zinwa said there was no water shortage in the town and the current supply gap arose from council’s failure to pay up.
ZINWA corporate communications and marketing manager Mrs Marjorie Munyonga said they installed prepaid water meters for the local authority, which is now expected to pay for its water requirements in advance to curb the further growth of its debt.
“The current water situation in the town is therefore an artificial one; emanating from the council’s failure to honour its obligations.
“For the avoidance of doubt, sufficient notice was given to the municipality prior to the installation of the prepaid water meters, which should have given them ample time to mobilise the necessary resources required for an uninterrupted water supply,” she said.
Mrs Munyonga said ZINWA was ready to resume supplies to Beitbridge Municipality.
The local authority was owing ZINWA $201 million as at December 31, 2021, a debt which made it impossible for ZINWA to continue providing service to the municipality.
“Continued service under the circumstances would mean the unsustainable situation of having small stations such as Tongwe, Shabwe, Guyu, Sun Yet Sen, Brunapeg and Maphisa subsdising an entity of the magnitude of Beitbridge Municipality,” she said.
Online Reporter