The ManicaPost
THE provision of water is a basic human right as enshrined in our Constitution.
Therefore local authorities are mandated to ensure that every household under their jurisdiction has access to clean potable water.
However, over the years due to a number of reasons, chief among them gross maladministration and corruption, most local authorities in the country have failed to provide water to residents.
This has resulted in diarrhoeal disease outbreaks in some towns and cities.
Although ratepayers get water bills every month, municipalities have struggled to provide the same and this has created friction between councils and residents.
Mutare finds itself in this disturbing position.
Elsewhere in this issue we carry a story in which Dangamvura residents have gone for decades without the precious liquid.
Understandably, residents have voiced their concerns over the seemingly unending water crisis in their neighbourhood.
Their bone of contention is the somewhat lackadaisical approach that is being exhibited by Mutare City Council to complete the much-awaited water pipeline project that is meant to avail water to the community.
This follows delays and empty promises by the local authority. On two occasions, council has shifted goal posts regarding the completion date of the water project.
Last year, council promised to finish the project by year-end.
However, the local authority gave several reasons for the delay and made a new promise to finish the project by April.
April has come and gone and the project is still hanging.
The local authority’s leadership is now saying they also do not know when the project will be finished as construction designs are marred by bottlenecks.
What is as clear as day is that residents are now fed up by these numerous excuses considering that Government has also availed devolution funds that could have been channelled towards the water infrastructure.
These funds need to be put to good use.
Residents have had enough of these water woes that have forced them to look for the precious liquid elsewhere in the middle of the night or at a cost.
Dangamvura has literally turned into a bucket community as everyone is always fetching water to take home.
The suburb has grown exponentially over the years but that growth is not being matched by the provision of basic services, chief among them water and sanitation facilities.
This Dangamvura water pipeline project has taken too long to be completed and the resulting noise from residents and affiliate associations is justified.
Some few years ago, a whopping US$330 000 meant for the project disappeared after some council employees and councillors connived with a bogus company to siphon the money.
That corruption episode is still haunting residents who are now bearing the brunt of that day light robbery.
Had council exercised due diligence, that money would not have landed in the hands of crooks who, up to now, have not returned a single cent, even after the courts found them guilty and ordered restitution.
Residents and ratepayers associations must keep on putting the pressure on council to deliver on its mandate.
Their watchdog role seeks to ensure that the city fathers run the local authority well and provide services.
