Kadoma council under fire . . . residents go for 20 years without water City’s refuse compactor fleet down

KADOMA City Council is under fire from residents who have gone for more than 20 years without receiving any water from their taps.

The affected areas include Eiffel Flats, Mupamombe, Wards 5, 6, 8 and 13 in Rimuka and Westview.

So dire is the situation that residents are relying on open water sources and boreholes sunk by donors at the height of a cholera outbreak in 2008.

Kadoma Residents Association chairman Mr Wikirosi Mutizira confirmed that the city was battling perennial water challenges.

“Water is a major challenge in Kadoma (and) in some areas residents have not received the precious liquid from their taps for more than 20 years now,” he said.

He said the areas that receive water supplies were not constant.

“In Eastview, which is less than a kilometre from the City Centre, residents receive water for two KADOMA residents have warned of a potential health disaster after the city’s refuse compactor fleet broke down more than a week ago.

Kadoma City Council has three refuse compactors, which are all down.

To avert a potential disaster, Kadoma is currently using tractors to try to meet the city’s demanding refuse collection schedule.

However, City of Kadoma town clerk Mr Malvern Dondo

hours, at most,” he said.

Mr Mutizira said residents were now pinning their hopes on Government as engagement with the local authority was not bearing fruit.

“We are now appealing to in an interview, said the situation was under control.

He said council had already bought the spare parts, which they were expecting soon.

“Kindly note that it is only refuse compactors that are down and we are expecting delivery of the spares,” he said.

“Please also note that we have two refuse tractors which are on the road and refuse collection is continuing.”

Mr Dondo said refuse collection schedules last week had not been affected.

“On Monday, we collected part of Ward 8 (Rimuka), Rimuka

Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister July Moyo to address the issue as we are hopeless.

“We need an urgent meeting involving all Kadoma stakeholders,” he said. Business Centre, Mornington and the town area. We also collected skip dishes from Waverley and Rimuka Market.

“On Tuesday, we collected in Chemukute and in Ward 2 (Rimuka). We also collected skip dishes in Ngezi Suburb and in the city centre opposite Day and Night Complex,” he said.

Mr Dondo said council would continue to temporarily use refuse tractors while the maintenance of the compactors was underway.

He said council would also proceed to collect refuse in Westview.

In separate interviews, Kadoma residents from some of the affected areas said they are constantly living in fear of disease outbreaks.

“I have children who are almost completing their second- ary education who have never used a shower in their lifetime and it’s such a pity.

“I have since removed outside taps as they are of no use because they risk being stolen,” Mr Tichaona Masero from Rimuka Ward 5 said.

Westview resident Mrs Annastancia Nduku said the unavailability of water has forced people to go to the bush to relieve themselves.

“Due to unavailability of water here, people use the bushes and maize fields to relieve themselves and our health is always at risk, especially during rainy seasons.”

Kadoma City town clerk Mr Malvern Dondo recently said council was working on finding a lasting solution to address water challenges in the city.

“Our pipes have many offtakes before reaching the final destinations, therefore when we pump, consumption is usually enjoyed by nearby suburbs and areas like Westview end up being affected,” he said.