By Chipo Gudhe
Kwekwe, once renowned for its clean water supply, is now grappling with a severe water crisis that threatens the city’s well-being. The city, which was known for its clean, safe, and reliable portable water, is now a mere shadow of its former self as residents face acute shortages.
In various suburbs of Kwekwe, residents endure days without portable water, resorting to waking up in the middle of the night to collect the meager trickles available. Those in elevated areas report prolonged dry spells from their taps.
Kwekwe City Council attributes the water crisis to a series of issues, including water pump breakdowns, power outages, and vandalism of water infrastructure by illegal gold miners.
Mayor Albert Zinhanga expressed the city’s commitment to resolving the crisis, emphasizing ongoing engagements with the power authority, Zesa, to address the power outages hampering water works.
Kwekwe mayor Albert Zinhanga recently said that they were going to make sure that all residents get water and that they would engage the power authority, Zesa to find a lasting solution to power outages crippling water works.
“We are currently having challenges with Zesa continuous power cuts at water works have become a problem. When we resume water pumping after having been switched off by Zesa it takes 3 to 4 hours for water to reach most areas and this has become a trend. We are appealing to Zesa to consider our plight by not regularly switching off our waterworks. Water is a critical component in people’s lives and we shall continue to engage Zesa in this regard. Hopefully, we will find a lasting solution to our current problem,” he said.
Town Clerk Dr Lucia Mkandla in a recent full council meeting said the city is losing treated water due to acts of vandalism by illegal miners.
The issue of vandalism on water infrastructure is now a big problem in our city and the process we are losing treated water to these acts of vandalism. There is a need for awareness amongst our residents so that they get to understand that vandalism of water infrastructure is a huge loss on their person and the community as a whole,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) has constantly maintained that the water is not safe for drinking.
Speaking at a meeting with journalists EMA Kwekwe District Environment Officer Daniel Magombedze has said the pennyworth which has sieged Sebakwe River, Kwekwe’s water source is a clear indication of high levels of pollution.
“If you notice that plant or weed in Sebakwe River it’s highly indicative of pollution. The weed thrives on nutrients and sewage or faecal matter provides that nutrient,” he said.
Kwekwe City Director of Works John Mhike recently said the water is safe for consumption.
“What I want to assure our residents is that our water is still safe and it is also the best water in the country. Recently there has been a boom of algae in our water bodies mainly due to hot temperatures. Therefore in a bid to contain the smell, we activated the process called activated carbon to try and contain the smell.
The smell is the only nuisance but the water in Kwekwe is still safe and there is no biological material inside. We have since engaged Zinwa and requested them to assist us in flashing the dam,” he said.
The neighbouring Redcliff is also affected by the water crisis as it relies on Kwekwe for safe water.
The neighboring town of Redcliff which is fully reliant on Kwekwe for safe water is also caught in the ripple effect of Kwekwe’s water crisis.