via Health time bomb ticking in Masvingo – DailyNews Live 9 July 2014 by Godfrey Mtimba
MASVINGO – A health time bomb is ticking here as the city has gone for four days without tap water.
Residents said although the council put up a public notice informing residents they would cut supplies for only two days due to ongoing works at Bushmead Water Treatment Plant, residents were angered after council extended the water cuts.
The residents, who are now relying on a few boreholes and unprotected sources of water, fear they could suffer from an outbreak of diseases such as cholera.
In a notice, Masvingo town clerk, Adolph Gusha, said: “The city of Masvingo wishes to advise residents that there will be planned shutdown of Bushmead Water Treatment Works on the following days to facilitate the installation of critical electrical components: Saturday 4th and Sunday 6th July 2014, Friday 11th and Saturday 12th July 2014. Residents are therefore urged to store enough water to meet their needs for the period.”
Masvingo United Residents and Ratepayers Association (Murra) took a swipe at the city council for taking long to complete the works.
Murra coordinator Anozivaishe Muguti said water was a basic human right and local authorities should supply it at all times.
“While we acknowledge the city fathers’ efforts to give notice to residents on the water cuts, we as Murra feel that the city fathers should not make residents suffer because they are doing maintenance work,” Muguti said. “Four or two days are too much for residents to live without water. We, therefore, demand that they work on their plant in the afternoon and restore water supplies in the evenings. We should not have water cuts exceeding 24 hours.”
Arnold Gumbu from Mucheke high density suburb, said: “The situation is bad. How can we go for four days now without water in the city? This is hazardous to our health. We can’t use our toilets now because there is no running water.”
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