Zimbabwe: Water Crisis in Mhangura

Photo: http://www.irinnews.org

Vandalism of water pipes and illegal connections in Mhangura town have forced the Zimbabwe National Water Authority to use an alternative water source to ensure most areas in the town receive water. Farmers along the more than 32-kilometre pipeline have been vandalising the metal pipes and diverting water to their farms and homesteads, depriving those in the town. Mhangura has over the years relied on Manyame River for water, but dilapidated metal pipes have rendered the water unsafe for consumption. The local authority had moved to drawing water from Round Table Dam, but the source has since dried up. The council now wants to start drawing water from Alpha Dam.

In an interview after the Mhangura water board meeting recently, Manyame Catchment Area operations manager Engineer Alois Katsande said Zinwa was working hard to ensure residents got water supplies.

“We have had to move from our traditional Manyame River water source to Round Table Dam, but of late that dam has dried up and we are now trying to move to Alpha Dam to ensure that our people have water,” he said.

Erratic water supplies have seen some people in the town resorting to using the bush system as the toilets became unusable.

Efforts were also made to drill boreholes, but they have not been able to meet demand and the move by Zinwa is seen as key to resolving the water crisis.