TRAVELLERS and government officials stationed at Mount Selinda Border Post in Manicaland are reportedly sitting on a health time bomb amid reports that the port of entry has been operating without running water for the past three weeks.
By Phyllis Mbanje
Sources at the border post said some residents had now resorted to unsafe water sources, exposing them to waterborne diseases such as typhoid and cholera.
Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) board secretary and director for legal and corporate services Florence Jambwa said the water crisis was caused by a breakdown of the port’s main pump, but allayed fears of a disease outbreak.
“In line with Zimra’s robust business continuity plan, clean water is being supplied to the border post using water bowsers until such a time that the pump is repaired. There are no health risks posed to the Zimra staff, border agencies and our valued clients who use Mt Selinda Border Post,” she said.
Health ministry secretary Gerald Gwinji has previously raised concerns over porous borders which complicate efforts to contain diseases like cholera.
Currently, there is a cholera outbreak in Mozambique with over 1 200 confirmed cases, mostly in Tete province.
