BY SIBONGINKOSI MAPHOSA
THE Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) has attached Gwanda Town Council’s service vehicles which include ambulances, fire tenders and official cars over a $17 million water supplies debt.
Gwanda mayor, Jastone Mazhale yesterday said the council and Zinwa were currently engaged in talks through their lawyers.
“Yes I can confirm that our vehicles were attached by Zinwa over a $17 million debt and we are currently running the town without ambulances, fire tenders and normal vehicles as Zinwa attached them. They only left refuse collection vehicles,” Mazhale confirmed.
Zinwa Gwanda catchment manager, Farai Manzira also confirmed the attachment saying they were in talks with the local authority on the way forward.
“We attached council vehicles, and right now talks are under way (and) we are hoping to give them back the vehicles this week after we get to an agreement on the payment plan,” Manzira said.
The impasse has angered ratepayers who said this has left them in a precarious situation.
Gwanda Residents Association secretary-general Bekezela Maduma Fuzwayo expressed concern over the unending feud between Gwanda Town Council and Zinwa which has escalated to alarming levels.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
“We are concerned as Gwanda residents over this issue as it is seriously affecting us. We go for a month without running water as Zinwa would have disabled its service, and as residents we have always lobbied for Zinwa to allow the Gwanda Town Council to run the water source, and avoid such unnecessary feuds,”Fuzwayo said.
“Right now as we speak we do not have any ambulances and no fire fighting vehicles. What would happen if a fire erupts?”
