adminMarvelous Moyo Gwanda Correspondent
THE Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) is struggling to buy water treatment chemicals to ensure adequate provision of water to Gwanda Town, an official has said.Umzingwane Catchment manager Engineer Tommy Rosen confirmed in an interview that the town has been facing erratic water supplies due to challenges in securing purification chemicals.
He blamed the problem to inadequate financing as the mining town was not generating enough revenue to cover the costs.
“We are facing financial challenges to buy the chemicals. If we get finance, we will be able to supply adequate water to the residents,” Eng Rosen said.
He said Gwanda municipality owed Zinwa about $5 million and as such the authority was finding it difficult to buy enough chemicals.
Eng Rosen said the local authority was blaming residents it accused of not paying their water bills.
“On average, Zinwa supplies the town with water worth about $100,000 monthly but the council is only paying us an average of $36,000 per month, which can only buy chemicals to last just a week,” said Eng Rosen.
He said unless council pays more, Zinwa will find it difficult to supply adequate water to the town. Some mining companies in Gwanda have been assisting the municipality with water purification chemicals.
Although some residents have not been paying their water bills, the municipality has been reluctant to disconnect defaulters.
“At this stage we are not planning on disconnecting water supplies to defaulters. We have been encouraging them to pay. Disconnections will be the last resort,” Gwanda Mayor Councillor Knowledge Ndlovu said.
The council is, however, planning to introduce prepaid water metres, a development that would force residents to pay for water before consumption.
Online Reporter