BEITBRIDGE residents, whose local authority is struggling to supply water, have taken a swipe at the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa)’s blitz on independent bulk water merchants saying the move will curtail the precious liquid’s supply.
Zinwa this week, to the ire of residents, launched a blitz on bulk water suppliers who grabbed the opportunity presented by council’s failure to supply water to the growing town of 60 000 people.
The residents believe Zinwa is making Beitbridge its experimental town, where it launches new systems.
Zinwa has introduced raw water bulk meter charges contrary to government recommendations and the current blitz on bulk water merchants.
The blitz, without prior warning or education, expects those netted to pay a spot fine of US$250 or risk having their equipment confiscated by police, where they will be required to pay US$750 fine.
Zinwa spokesperson Marjorie Munyonga said the blitz was being carried out in terms of existing regulations.
She said the blitz would also ensure the safety of water for human consumption.
“The current operation targeting bulk water dealers is being carried out in terms of Statutory Instrument (SI) 90 of 2013. The SI makes it mandatory for all bulk water dealers, who include water bottling companies, owners and operators of bulk water sources and transporters, to be registered with Zinwa and to carry out their business in terms of appropriate permits,” she said.
- Water shortages hit Gutu-Mpandawana
- Power cuts hit Karoi water supplies
- Fire destroys city flats
- New water policy brings less sharing, more spying
Keep Reading
“Failure to register constitutes an offence whose penalties include fines, cessation of operations and, or imprisonment. This is done to safeguard the health of the public through ensuring that the bulk water is being sourced from appropriate boreholes and transported in suitable vehicles.
“Zinwa is also mandated to inspect the water sources and vehicles for quality compliance. The SI also aims to regulate groundwater abstraction by providing for designated areas where bulk water can be extracted.”
However, Beitbridge residents believe Zinwa is giving them a raw deal after failing to engage the community before implementing laws they do not understand.
“Their operations might be above board, but we have a history with this organisation as Beitbridge. It cut water supplies regularly without communicating with residents,” they said.
“They have installed a bulk meter in this town and not anywhere else in Zimbabwe and now they are coming up with their new blitz in this same town.
“Have they ever held an awareness meeting here? Are we always a town they do their experiments in? They should take responsibility and not only look at lining their pockets.”
Town clerk Loud Ramakgapola echoed similar sentiments saying Zinwa should have been courteous enough to educate residents ahead of the blitz.
“We need some bit of education on this action by Zinwa. Sensitisation is key for this perhaps noble action,” he said.
“There is also need to work with the local authority so that the water carriers are inspected by our health team as we believe at Zinwa they may not readily have those people on the ground here.”
Former mayor Munyaradzi Chitsunge said the water authority's approach did not have a human face.
“Given the obtaining situation of failure by council to supply residents with clean potable water for close to a month now and even erratically before, bulk water merchants have played a pivotal role in ensuring life is easier and manageable for the working class that get home late and cannot get the chance to go to boreholes to fetch the precious liquid,” he said.
“However, Zinwa has taken the worst imaginable move of arresting the merchants, it’s highly inhuman. This move will promote the spread of cholera and other diseases like diarrhoea and typhoid.”
