BY WANDILE TSHUMA
After a two-day sit-in at Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA offices), Hwange Local Board management and ZINWA have reached a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the handing over of Empumalanga Phase 4 Stage II water management.
This breakthrough comes as a huge relief to the residents of Empumalanga, who have been without water for eight long months.
“This serves to inform you that yesterday (27 September 2024) Hwange Local Board management held a meeting with the Zimbabwe National Water Authority Hwange to deliberate on the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two parties on the handing over of Empumalanga Phase 4 Stage II water management,” said Dumisani Nsingo, Public Relations Officer.
The disconnection, which occurred in February, was due to a standoff between the Hwange Local Board and ZINWA over arrears.
“ZINWA requested for the removal of certain financially related clauses of which Hwange Local Board obliged to. Thereafter, Acting Town Secretary Mr Paulos Mabhureni signed the MoU on behalf on Hwange Local Board and handed it over to ZINWA Hwange officials who advised that the document will be sent to their head office in Harare for signing by their Chief Executive Officer, most probably on Monday (30 September 2024).”Nsingo said.
But the impact was felt most keenly by the residents, who were forced to resort to drinking unclean water from ponds near sewer lines.
This has not only been an inconvenience, but also a health risk, as the water is also consumed by wild animals.
According to Irene Shangwa, vice chairman of Phase 4 residents, “For the past eight months, we have been drinking water from underground. We do not even know where that water is coming from, whether it’s sewer water or just dirty water. We just drink it.”
Some residents have been asking relatives for water, while others are selling water for $1 for four or five buckets.
The situation has been particularly dire for women and children, who are the ones who fetch water from the ponds, exposing them to other diseases. Last year, they also went for eleven months without water, drinking from the ponds.
This is despite Zimbabwe being a signatory to the UN Human Rights Council, which recognizes the right to safe, clean, and potable water.
The signing of the MOU is a significant step forward, and is expected to pave the way for the reconnection of water at Empumalanga Phase 4 Stage II.
While there is still work to be done to address the underlying issues, the residents of Empumalanga can finally see a glimmer of hope on the horizon.
As one resident noted, “We are relieved that something is finally being done. We just hope that the water is turned back on soon.”