Fairness Moyana in Kamativi
ABOUT 600 households in Kamativi, Hwange District, are set to benefit from improved access to safe drinking water following the commissioning of five water distribution points by Kamativi Mining Company (KMC), ending years of reliance on unsafe water sources.
The system, which supplies between 50 and 60 cubic metres of treated water daily, is expected to ease a longstanding burden on residents who have struggled to access reliable water since the closure of Kamativi Tin Mine in 1994.
Women and girls have borne the brunt of the shortages, often walking long distances to fetch water from unprotected sources, exposing themselves to dangers such as crocodile attacks and drowning, while increasing their vulnerability to waterborne diseases.
Kamativi Residents Association secretary-general, Mr Collet Moyo, said the intervention was long overdue, as residents had endured years without access to running water.
“Life was very difficult for us as residents without running water for all these years. We had to fetch water from unprotected sources such as our local dam, where people were also exposed to risks of crocodile attacks and drowning,” he said.
“Residents were also vulnerable to waterborne diseases such as diarrhoea and cholera.”
Ms Tendai Nguni said women had to walk up to 5km to fetch water from a dam, while schoolchildren also faced challenges because of inadequate sanitation facilities at schools.
“We were having a hard time, especially women, as we had to walk 5km to the dam to fetch water. Schoolchildren were also struggling because there were no proper sanitation facilities at schools, leading to waterborne disease outbreaks in the area,” she said.
Another resident, Ms Winfilda Sinoko, said improved access to water would enhance household hygiene and ease the burden on women.
“Before we got water here, access to water was a big challenge for us. We would walk long distances to access unsafe water as we had no choice. We are very happy with this intervention that will lessen the burden on us as women,” she said.
Ms Caroline Zulu said water shortages had disproportionately affected women and girls, particularly in managing menstrual hygiene and meeting household responsibilities.
The five distribution points were commissioned yesterday at a ceremony attended by Government officials, traditional leaders, KMC representatives and community members.
KMC general manager, Mr Jack Ye, said the company had installed a water treatment system incorporating softening, three-stage filtration, reverse osmosis and ultraviolet sterilisation to ensure the supply of safe drinking water.
He said the treatment process removes hardness, sediment, chlorine and dissolved salts before ultraviolet treatment eliminates harmful microorganisms.
The five distribution points have a combined supply capacity of between 50 and 60 cubic metres daily, translating to approximately 100 litres per household per day for the estimated 600 beneficiary households.
To ensure sustainability, KMC has introduced a management arrangement under which the company oversees the main valves, while community section leaders manage the respective distribution points.
Mr Ye said the company was also working towards introducing automated electronic valve systems to improve water management.
Beyond the water project, KMC handed over a new community landfill with a capacity exceeding 7 000 cubic metres and launched a free community medical clinic.
Mr Ye said the landfill was intended to improve sanitation and environmental protection, while the clinic would bring healthcare services closer to residents.
Acting Hwange District Development Coordinator, Mr Lovemore Sibanda, said the commissioning of the water points marked an important milestone for communities that had struggled to access safe drinking water.
He urged residents to establish and support water point committees, report faults promptly and protect the infrastructure against vandalism.
“These water points now belong to you. Government and the donor have done their part, and the responsibility for protecting them rests with all of us,” he said.
Mr Sibanda also called on KMC, Hwange Rural District Council and relevant Government departments to collaborate on regular maintenance and monitoring to ensure the systems remain operational.
Mutapa Energy Resources chief executive officer, Mr Innocent Rukweza, said community development had been incorporated into KMC’s corporate governance framework since the company resumed operations at Kamativi Mine in September 2022.
He said previous initiatives included the construction of a 2,5km paved road, a solar-powered community well, the provision of electricity to Kamativi Clinic, classroom construction at local schools, scholarships and medical outreach programmes.
Mr Rukweza said the company would continue working with local stakeholders to create employment and business opportunities while supporting community development.
Headman Galuza welcomed the intervention, saying residents had endured serious challenges in accessing water and had lagged behind in the provision of essential services.
