Lovemore Kadzura
Post Reporter
THE water crisis at Hauna Growth Point in Mutasa District is now a Government priority, amid revelations that US$500 000 is needed to fund the drawing of water from Pungwe River to the growing urban settlement.
This came up during a stakeholders meeting last week to discuss the biting water situation being experienced in the area, where a local investor, Nyanga Renewable Energy, pledged to construct a pipeline from Pungwe River to the proposed new Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) water reticulation tanks.
Hauna is experiencing acute water shortages following the drying up of its source, Ruda River, due to overuse by farmers and El Nino-induced drought.
This has exposed the growth point to waterborne diseases such as cholera and dysentery.
At the moment, ZINWA is supplying the precious liquid with a bowser.
Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Advocate Misheck Mugadza said the situation is of serious concern, and applauded the private sector for coming on board to assist Government in finding a lasting solution.
He appointed a committee headed by acting Mutasa District Development Coordinator, Mr Tedious Beto to work on modalities to bring normalcy at the growth point.
“The water problem at Hauna Growth Point will be a thing of the past if the Pungwe River Project is implemented. All Government ministries and agencies must come on board, and have all hands on the deck. The required US$500 000 where Government and the private sector are involved cannot be said to be a lot of money. We would like to thank Nyanga Renewable Energy for the efforts they are putting.
“If there is cholera outbreak here, it will affect the district, and even the whole province, so we need to find a lasting solution as early as possible. Hauna is growing fast, and very soon it will be a town board, so it must have all services in place. This is an urgent issue that we must tackle.
“Water is a priority, and more boreholes will be drilled at Hauna. ZINWA was instructed to avail more rigs here. We are encouraging Mutasa Rural District Council to engage sister local authorities to borrow extra water bowsers,” said Minister Mugadza.
ZINWA Manicaland Provincial Engineer, Engineer Passwell Nyahora said they were supplying water with bowsers, while five new boreholes were drilled by Government as short term measures.
“Ruda River no longer has the capacity to supply Hauna because of competing needs, and the effects of the El Nino-induced drought, so the water is not reaching our treatment plant. Government has so far drilled five boreholes after we raised the issue through the local legislator, Honourable Obey Bvute.
“There is need to expedite the Pungwe Project which Nyanga Renewable Energy has expressed interest to be part of. As ZINWA, we are expected to construct a new water reticulation system to treat water from Pungwe River. At the moment, we are servicing the growth point through bowsers,” said Engineer Nyahora.
Nyanga Renewable Energy official, Mr Takudzwa Chigwande said as part of their social responsibility programme, they are committed to play their part in solving the water situation, and are ready to pump water to Muparutsa where ZINWA should set up the reticulation system first.
“It was projected five years ago that Hauna will have water challenges, and a survey was done, and it is possible for NRE to pump raw water to Muparutsa. ZINWA must now set up treatment plants at Muparutsa. NRE will only pump the raw water if ZINWA sets up the reticulation system. We have done the same project in Mutoko where we operate a solar plant.
“We have also supplied about 2 000 litres of fuel for the drilling of boreholes. NRE is raring to go, the ball is now in ZINWA’s court,” said Mr Chigwande.
