Residents get water reconnection after eight-month drought

Fairness Moyana in Hwange

RESIDENTS of Empumalanga Phase Four in Hwange Town recently heaved a sigh of relief following the reconnection of water supplies, ending a challenging eight-month period of dry taps.

The prolonged water crisis stemmed from the disconnection of a bulk water metre by the Hwange Local Board (HLB), which had been supplying the area.

The Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) cited efforts to manage a growing debt incurred by the HLB as the reason for the disconnection.

However, tensions between the two parties, which date back to a protracted water dispute that began in 2015, resurfaced as they argued over the exact amount owed. This conflict resulted in residents facing eight months without water before the recent reconnection.

HLB chairperson, Councillor Morris Mafa confirmed the development in a statement where he apologised in what he argued were circumstances beyond the local authority’s control.

“Hwange Local Board is pleased to announce that water at Empumalanga Phase Four Stage II has finally been reconnected after about eight months. As council, we sincerely apologise for the regrettable events that led to the settlement going for such a prolonged period without potable water, in the process exposing people’s lives to danger of contracting communicable diseases.

“For the umpteenth time, we would like to let residents of Empumalanga Phase Four Stage II know that it was not council’s intention to deprive them of water, but it was due to circumstances beyond our control,” said Clr Mafa.

He said though the council had a debt to settle with Zinwa it was at loggerheads with the billing system used by the water utility organisation arguing that it was unfair.

“As you might be aware, we incurred a massive debt to Zinwa. It is, however, worth noting that we found ourselves heavily in debt, largely due to how Zinwa was billing us. Officials from Zinwa disclosed to us that they were charging council almost twice the amount charged elsewhere for domestic use.”

Council further argued that Zinwa had advised that HLB was being charged a special rate, which they referred to as the Local Government rate.

“This was despite the fact that we were buying water in bulk for domestic use by residents of Empumalanga Phase Four Stage II,” said Clr Mafa.

He said despite the water disconnection, council moved in with an alternative in the form of a bowser as part of acknowledging the importance of water as a basic right.

The local authority expressed frustration at Zinwa’s failure to finalise an agreement after its decision to hand over the running of its water system in the affected area resulting in residents going for eight months without water.

“Let me hasten to say that upon realising that it was unsustainable for council to continue running the water reticulation system in Empumalanga Phase Four Stage II, we decided to hand over to Zinwa in March, this year.

“Nonetheless, despite efforts by council to expedite the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) leading to the handover of water management in Empumalanga Phase Four Stage II, Zinwa continuously dragged its feet resulting in the process taking longer than expected while also depriving residents access to potable water for about eight months.”

HLB also declared that it had cleared its debt to Zinwa but was quick to say the handing over of Empumalanga Phase Four Stage II was not due to lack of capacity, but the water authority made it practically impossible to do so.

“Please note that Council took it upon itself to supply Empumalanga Phase Four Stage II with water as part of its pilot project aimed at preparing itself to take over water administration from Zinwa. Zinwa supplied water up to the bulk meter with Council distributing to individual households,” explained Clr Mafa.

He added that the model was meant to be implemented in all new settlements starting with Zimbabwe Power Company’s Empumalanga low and medium density housing project, which is currently being undertaken by the power utility entity.