Water distributors preying on women, girls

SUPPLIERS of water through water bowsers have been accused of preying on desperate women and girls fetching water by asking for sexual favours in return for water.

This emerged at a Water Dialogue Forum held in Mabvuku, which was jointly organised by Combined Harare Residents Association, Community Water Alliance and Women and Law Southern Africa.

The water situation has not spared even the young women who are succumbing to the demands of the volunteer workers distributing water.

The water distribution has increased vulnerabilities among women as they come as late as 7pm distributing water in Mabvuku.

Participants to the meeting highlighted that the conditions created by the unavailability water have exposed women to sexual and physical violence and that the Tafara women who “killed” a man who attacked her is not guilty of any offence.

Ivy Chimedza from WLSA explained that the current legislation was not progressive in protecting women especially when they harm or kill their attacker for self-defence.

The Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) welcomed the partnership by civic society organisations and residents on coming up with stop gap measures to address the issues affecting water supply in Mabvuku.

CHRA calls on for the immediate removal of the Chemplex Corporation’s monopoly of supplying water treatment chemicals to the City of Harare, which has disrupted water supply in the city due to lack of capacity to supply water treatment chemical to the city.