Hwange water problems persist

HWANGE residents have gone for more than 10 years facing water challenges with some of the problems being attributed to vandalism of pipes from the Zambezi River by some villagers who live along the pipeline.

The erratic water supplies in Hwange continue to affect residents despite the proximity of the mining town to the Zambezi River from which the water is drawn.

Hwange Ward 14 councillor Mathius Phiri said it was disappointing that the water situation had taken long to be rectified.

“The Hwange Colliery Company has problems with their pumps hence the residents are struggling to get water. We are grateful to a local donor, Vuramanzi which provided a water bowser to residents to alleviate the problem but you can cannot rely on water supplied through bowsers forever,” said Clr Phiri.

He said he has presented the case to the local representative in the National Assembly Brain Tshuma who has promised to approach the responsible Government departments to look into the problem.

Zimbabwe Urban Council Workers Union chairperson (Hwange), Mr Themba Tshuma said the perennial water shortages were worrying as some residents were resorting to sourcing water from unprotected wells.

“There is no alternative for water unlike when there is no electricity we use firewood or gas. As I speak people are at risk of contracting water borne diseases such as typhoid and bilharzia,” he said.