Back to basics as water vanishes
AS the taps run dry, the agony of the prevailing water shedding in the City of Bulawayo is felt by all and sundry. It is more of a nightmare to hordes of Westernised youths especially those dwelling in western suburbs, as the bling-bling and swag disappears just like the H2O.
They deliberately hobble in a timid protest against their folks’ decision to send them on their newly found REAL CHORE — to fetch the precious liquid at the nearest borehole.
The boys’ baggy and saggy pants, which are always below their bums, have suddenly found their rightful position. Certainly one cannot afford to drop their pants as this is most likely to impede on their ability to carry a 20-litre gallon of water or to push a wheelbarrow home. It’s also stressful for ladies as their trendy hairdos are to be tampered with and their expensive manicure messed up in their attempt to ferry water-filled buckets on their heads. The only option they have is to stay natural — at least for now.
Those with grey hair and beard, the wise and elderly citizens can only gleefully watch as their grandchildren become reluctant and struggle with the “burden” of carrying out daily water fetching errands. To them the water shortage calamity, though a rude experience, presents their modern grandchildren with a rare opportunity of initiating them from boys to men and from girls to women.
The aged are of the view that, at least the water shedding accords modern youths to shy away from their sedentary lifestyle which in most occasions entails watching the TV the whole day, roaming in streets of the Central Business District on window shopping expeditions. They lazily hang around at home, worse still, spending the entire day lying on a couch while watching their favourite television programmes or trying to outsmart each other in various electronic games.
“I am sorry to say this but today’s youths are more of spoilt brats and lazy bones. They just sit on their laurels and need everything to be done for them and difficult times like these water shortages ensure that they at least embark on some chores and in this regard, going to fetch water,” said Gogo Rosemary Bhebhe from the high density suburb of Lobengula West.
The Bulawayo City Council has been forced to introduce 72-hour water shedding schedules in residential areas due to an appalling drop in water levels at its major supply dams.
The exodus of people especially youths from their homes in the wee hours on the errand to fetch water from the borehole accords those that have never set foot in a rural setting, a glimpse of one of the daily chores to expect in the countryside.
Suddenly, gatherings at boreholes have presented a “golden opportunity” for boys that have reached adolescence with an opportunity to sharpen their love lyrics as they bid to court the “apple of their eyes”.
Those with a “sweet tongue” disposition make an effort to put their MASCULINITY to test by volunteering to swing the pumping pole of the borehole or ferrying water containers for the ones they adore in a bid to impress.
Since time immemorial a number of love relationships in rural areas have been “sealed” at these “auspicious” gatherings at the water holes thus the same happens at western suburbs’ boreholes and can be best classified as going BACK TO BASICS.
“These youths, spoilt as they are, will always find a way to make this (water shedding) situation favourable to them. You will find a girl child going for a long period purporting to be holed up at the borehole and upon returning she will say they were long queues whereas she was attending to some of her “personal business”, said Ndodana “Wizzy” Sibanda from Mpopoma.
The gatherings at boreholes have also turned into havens of gossip as “rumour mongers” mostly girls and women “tear into” their neighbours’ privacy and also host a number of “kangaroo courts”.
In the wake of water shortages a number of families are now resorting to relieving themselves in the bushes within their vicinities, an act of being made to be forcibly in HARMONY WITH NATURE.
Of course they are oblivious of an upsurge of diseases culminating from open defecation. They are left with no choice but to use the bush as an alternative since the unavailability of water makes it impossible for one to use the loo.
To its credit, the water shortage has managed to retain the Spirit of Ubuntu as it has enabled people to meet and interact on socio-economic issues. People have also learnt to appreciate the culture of giving as exhibited by individuals that would have been spared water shedding in their area inviting those affected by the schedule to come and draw water from their taps.
However, some unscrupulous individuals are now cashing in on the water rationing regime by selling the precious liquid to desperate residents. It is during these times that people heed the SAVE WATER, WATER IS LIFE campaigns by the local authority and various stakeholders seriously.
Now it surely dawns to the entire populace that water is indeed a precious liquid and everyone wishes “It Would Rain Down” and “Let the rain wash away all the pain of yesterday”.