Zinwa to cede water supply to Karoi

Conrad Mupesa in KAROI
Karoi Town Council says it is working tirelessly to take over the running of the town’s water reticulation system from the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) as it believes it has a mandate to deliver water to its residents. The council says taking over of water services from Zinwa would bring normalcy to water delivery, which has affected many residents. In an interview, Karoi Town Clerk Mr Wellington Mutikani said the local authority hopes to take over water reticulation system so that it provides its residents with water timeously.

“We feel it is our mandate to supply water to our residents. We are not the only local authority pursuing this matter as various councils have followed suit,” he said. Mr Mutikani also said the council had been handling Zinwa-related cases brought to them by residents.

“All residents who feel they are being overcharged and not receiving any water visit the council offices, not Zinwa offices as the residents are used and believe such issues are better handled by us,” he said, Karoi Town Council chairperson Mr Richard Ziki said the council was hoping to take over water services from Zinwa this year, but the process has been moving slowly.

However, Mr Mutikani said that the request was currently being handled at ministerial level hence the exact date remains unknown. Zinwa, which is tasked with the management of water resources, has come under fire from residents, who allege that it is failing to provide water services in most parts of the farming town. Other residents believe that they have become milking cows for the entity, which they allege bills them exorbitantly despite poor water delivery.

“It is unfortunate that it has become normal for us to go for weeks without water and receive huge monthly bills,” said Mrs Martha Machokoto. Zinwa corporate communications and marketing manager Mrs Marjorie Munyonga was not available for comment by the time of going to print, but had previously indicated to The Herald that her organisation was facing serious problems with defaulters countrywide.