Hwange hit by erratic clean water supply

Mashudu Mambo, Sunday News Reporter
RESIDENTS of Hwange have complained that they are drinking unclean water, raising fears that they may be at the risk of contracting water-borne diseases.

Erratic supply of treated water has forced some of the residents to use unsafe water sources in the area.

A resident of Railways Area, Ms Precious Ndlovu said: “In our area, we sometimes go for three months without water coming out of the taps. This is a serious problem and some residents are now using the bush as there is no water to flush the toilets,” said Ms Ndlovu.

The water crisis has also affected other areas such as Number One, Mpumalanga and Ingagula, residents said.

Mr Matamela Moyo of Ingagula said: “We are facing a water crisis on a daily basis and we are forced to draw water from other unsafe water sources.

We sometimes spend a lot of time in queues to fetch water which will be supplied in one location and companies like Zesa sometimes supply residents with bowsers but it will be untreated.”

In June residents wrote a petition to the Parliament complaining about the water situation in the town.

In the petition, the residents noted the impasse between the local authority and Zinwa has resulted in water problems in the coal mining town.

The two entities have for many years been fighting over the control of the town’s mining treatment plant.

Hwange Ward 15 councillor Pius Shumba said: “The major challenge we have are the chemicals, the water that is said to be unclean is semi-treated and in most cases it is used for flushing and washing. The water is not dirty but it is like the water in rural areas. The cutting of water supplies is for control purposes because there are challenges of chemicals,” said Clr Shumba.

Hwange Local Board chairperson Clr Cosmas Ndhlovu said: “The water crisis in Hwange, especially in Railways is caused by challenges being faced by the Hwange Colliery Company. We are working on the alternative methods to address this problem.”

“There are areas like Ingagula where the water is supplied by the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) and there is water rationing. If they are challenges like chemicals we usually contact Zinwa.”