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Sifundiso Ndlovu Chronicle Reporter
PUMULA South residents have petitioned the Bulawayo City Council over critical water shortages in some sections of the suburb.
In a petition addressed to the mayor Martin Moyo, town clerk Middleton Nyoni and the area’s ward councillor Siboniso Khumalo, residents expressed concern over the prolonged unavailability of water in Habbek and Ngwalongwalo section of the suburb saying disease outbreaks are imminent if the situation is not rectified.
“Habbek and Ngwalongwalo sections only have access to water between 12 midnight and 4AM daily. This has greatly affected the lives of residents as they have to get up every night to fill containers,” reads part of the petition.
“Sometimes the pressure is so low that it is impossible for the residents to collect adequate amounts of water to meet all their needs. Due to this, the area has become prone to outbreaks of diseases. We feel it is grossly unjust and a violation of the right to water for people in an urban setting to live without reliable access to clean potable water.”
Despite the unavailability of water, residents claim they continue to receive high water bills from the local authority.
In an interview with Chronicle, the mayor, Clr Moyo, said there is no immediate solution to the problem as council does not have adequate funds.
“We need a reservoir like the one in Magwegwe or a booster pump to solve the problem. These projects are costly. As a council we are looking for private public partnerships to help with a lasting solution,” he said.
However, residents said it is the duty of the council to provide reliable water supplies instead of proffering excuses.
In February this year, council relaxed the strict water rationing regime after city supply dams recorded significant in flows.
Bulawayo faces perennial water problems and the council has been rationing water for more than 10 years with the Matabeleland Zambezi Water Project seen as the lasting solution to the water woes.
Online Reporter