By Clayton Shereni, correspondent for Masvingo
Residents of GUTU are up in arms against the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) after enduring two weeks without a residential running water supply after a pump broke down at the town’s water supply station .
The inhabitants now use a few boreholes scattered in the region for water supply.
Furious locals told this publication they want the council to take over water reticulation, but ZINWA is still holding out.
Gutu United Residents and Ratepayers Association (Gurra) Chairman Lloyd Mupfudze expressed his disappointment saying that decentralization was not being implemented, therefore parastatal government should follow the word and end the everlasting problems water in their area.
“ZINWA should take care of breakdowns early, but because they don’t have a workshop in Gutu, it takes time for them to come and fix a broken pump,” he said.
“This is where you hear us advocating for decentralization of power because we want leaders who are accountable to the people. If the council were responsible, it would be easy to hold them accountable because the councilors are always on the ground. »
ZINWA spokeswoman Marjorie Munyonga said they were working to install another pump and had since corrected the problem.
“We had a breakdown of our pump and electric motor that took a week to resolve,” she said.
“We have since repaired the pump and pumping resumed yesterday (August 17). We are also upgrading the station and installing new pumps that will pump more water to Gutu. »
Meanwhile, the region is battling to control the spread of measles that has engulfed parts of the country.
At least five cases have been confirmed in Gutu, Nyazvidzi region, where all five children are believed to have died.
Contacted to comment on what they were doing to prevent further spread of the disease in rural Gutu, Ministry of Health and Child Care spokesman Donald Mujiri referred all questions to the Director Provincial Medical (PMD).
“You can talk to the PMD, he is on the ground. I will also have to talk to him first and get back to you,” Mujiri said.
Shamhu asked to be called after an hour as he was in a meeting.
“I’m in a meeting, you can call me after an hour,” he said.
However, Shamhu did not return calls when asked for comment.
A measles outbreak has hit the country, with authorities blaming the calamity on the gatherings and beliefs of apostolic sects.
Many affected apostolic sects do not believe in modern medicine despite high cases among their children.
