BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI
Victoria Falls will endure another day without running water on Wednesday as the council will be installing new pumps on the Zambezi River, the city council has said.
Most areas in the city have been experiencing intermittent water cuts since early this month when the local authority switched off supplies for several days to repair the water reticulation infrastructure.
Council on Monday said residents and businesses must brace for water cuts lasting up to 10 hours on Wednesday as it installs the pumps.
“Victoria Falls City Council wishes to inform its residents and stakeholders that new pumps will be installed at the Waterworks Highlift Pump Station,” council said in a statement.
“In light of the installations, there will be an interruption of water services on Wednesday, 18 August 2021, from 0800hrs to 1800hrs.
“The works are part of the council’s efforts to rehabilitate and upgrade its water supply system to provide efficient and uninterrupted services.
“You are, therefore, encouraged to prepare accordingly.”
For the past three weeks, the local authority has been battling to provide adequate water to residents, especially in high density suburbs, after a pump malfunctioned.
Some residents in Chinotimba and Mkhosana’s Garikai and Mfelandawonye areas are being forced to fetch water from the local authority’s main tank in Chinotimba.
Victoria Falls mayor Somvelo Dlamini has blamed the water cuts on aging infrastructure, which he said his council inherited from the Zimbabwe Water Management Authority (Zinwa).
Zinwa ran the city’s water reticulation system until a few months ago.
Dlamini said Zinwa left behind obsolete suction pumps and other equipment, which made it difficult to pump enough raw water from the Zambezi River.
Council won the tussle for control of the water infrastructure a few months ago after the government intervened.
Zinwa recently hiked water charges to $ 4.5 million per month from $1.1 million after losing pumping rights and council officials say the charges are too high as the local authorities must pay other pumping costs like electricity.