By Panashe Kaseke
Chitungwiza Municipality is grappling with a major water crisis following the decommissioning of the Prince Edward Water Treatment Plant by the City of Harare in late August.
The decommissioning was necessitated by the drying up of Harava and Seke dams, the primary sources of water for the plant, leaving the town’s water supply in a dire state.
In a statement released by Chitungwiza Mayor, Councillor Rosaria Mangoma, the town is now receiving only between 1 and 3 megalitres of water from Morton Jaffray on weekends, a volume that falls far short of the town’s daily demand of at least 75 megalitres. The council is struggling to distribute this limited supply to all residents, exacerbating the already critical situation.
“We are unable to distribute the little water we receive to all residents,” said Cllr Mangoma in the statement. “The situation is beyond the council’s capacity, and we are seeking government intervention.”
To mitigate the impact, the municipality is maintaining community boreholes to provide an alternative source of water. Residents are encouraged to use these boreholes and source water from safe and trusted points to ensure access during the shortage.
In an effort to ease the burden on residents, the municipality has made a public appeal for assistance. “We are appealing to well-wishers to come on board and assist us in this situation,” stated the mayor, urging those willing to help to reach out to the acting town clerk.
The water crisis has had a significant impact on the daily lives of Chitungwiza residents, and the council expressed its regret for the challenges this has posed to the community. “The council regrets the difficulties that residents might be facing due to the water crisis,” the statement reads.
The municipality’s call for intervention and external support highlights the urgent need for a sustainable solution to the water shortages, which continue to disrupt the lives of thousands of people in the town. As the crisis deepens, the council’s efforts to secure governmental support and community assistance will be key to resolving the shortage and preventing further hardship.
