Sundaymail Editor
Pretiosa Chimuti
SOME parts of Norton have gone for four months without running water, raising fears of disease outbreaks in the town.
Residents, who are spending up to four hours queuing for water at community boreholes daily, fear that an outbreak of diseases such as cholera, typhoid and dysentery could be imminent.
Norton Town Council public relations and community participation officer, Mr Francis Kachere, said demand for potable water has outstripped supply.
“The lasting solution to Norton water problems is having its own water treatment plant,” he said.
“Currently we are not getting enough to satisfy demand.
“The problem lies with the council not having a treatment plant.
“However, we are negotiating with potential investors who have shown interest in assisting council to fulfil its mandate of providing water provision to ratepayers.”
Norton resident Mrs Tendai Nyoni told The Sunday Mail that the water situation was desperate.
“There is a point in time where the council would deliver water in almost every area in Norton and we would fetch water from their bowsers.
“It was easier for us and we saw their efforts to help us.
“However, the situation is now different, they are no longer coming and the taps are dry.
“Our wells no longer have water, so it’s hard for us to access water.
“Queues at boreholes are unbearable; we are spending between 3 to 4 hours in the queue, which is not healthy.”
Recently, the Harare City Council cut off water supplies to Norton Town over a $117 million debt.
Supply was later restored after negotiations between the two local authorities.
Online Reporter