WATCH: Gwanda races to restore water supplies after flood damage

GWANDA Municipality is working on a temporary solution to restore water connections by Thursday after floods damaged critical equipment at the town’s pumping station, leaving residents without water for three days.

The floods, which hit Gwanda over the weekend, submerged the municipality’s water pumping house, disrupting supply across the town and affecting households, businesses and key institutions.

Residents have since resorted to using limited boreholes, raising fears of a potential outbreak of waterborne diseases if the situation persists. Concerns are also mounting over the lack of water in essential institutions, including health facilities and other public service centres.

Mayor Alderman Thulani Moyo said the local authority has initiated emergency measures while seeking financial support to fully restore operations.

“Our technical team has conducted an assessment and US$102 000 is needed to replace the damaged equipment. Given the urgency of the situation, we are working on a temporary solution by reconnecting the 400mm steel pipes that had been dismantled,” he said.

He said restoring water supply remains a top priority as the outage is severely affecting residents as well as institutions such as hospitals, prisons and offices.

Alderman Moyo said the municipality has since sent an SOS to Government through the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, while also engaging the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) and local mines for assistance.

Efforts are also underway at local level to mobilise resources, with priority being given to procuring the required equipment to ensure a lasting solution.