Online Reporter
Bokang Tlou
THE Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) has launched a countrywide crackdown on illegal bulk water dealers, in a move aimed at restoring order in the water delivery sub-sector and safeguarding public health.
The operation follows public complaints over unregulated water abstraction and delivery in urban areas, which authorities say it poses serious health risks and violate national regulations.
In a statement on Sunday, Zinwa’s head of corporate communications and marketing. Mrs Marjorie Munyonga, said that the blitz is within the framework of Statutory Instrument 90 of 2013, which governs the licensing and operations of bulk water dealers, including borehole operators and water delivery truckers.
“All bulk water dealers must be registered with Zinwa. It is illegal to abstract raw water from residential areas without specific authority. It is also illegal to abstract raw water from residential areas unless one is granted specific authority to do so,” she said.
“Zinwa is also empowered to randomly collect water samples from bulk water sources and trucks and have such samples examined for water quality compliance.”
Mrs Munyonga said borehole owners and bulk water suppliers should keep accurate records of water abstractions as part of their legal obligation.
“In this blitz, Zinwa is working very closely with law enforcement agencies and other organs mandated to help regulate bulk water businesses. Bulk water dealers are strongly advised to fully cooperate with Zinwa teams during this operation while the public can also report illegal or any suspected illegal bulk water activities to ZINWA on its WhatsApp number 0774 674 333,” she said.
