RESIDENTS of Empumalanga in Hwange, Matabeleland North province, have gone for more than three days without running water, raising fears of a potential disease outbreak as families resort to communal boreholes.
Greater Whange Residents Trust co-ordinator Fidelis Chima said the situation was particularly hard on women and girls.
“The community has now gone over three days without water,” Chima said.
“Residents spend most of their time queuing at communal boreholes, even during the night. Girls and women are bearing the brunt.”
He renewed calls to remove the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) from managing water in Hwange Local Board’s jurisdiction.
“Hwange Local Board is directly accountable to residents, therefore, it should be in charge of water distribution to residents,” he said.
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“The situation is straining Constituency Development Fund boreholes and there are high fears that some may breakdown soon or dry up.”
Hwange Local Board spokesperson Dumisani Nsingo said he needed to check with Zinwa before commenting.
“Let me find out. Zinwa is in charge of water,” he said.
Zinwa corporate communications manager Marjorie Munyonga had not responded to questions by the time of publication.
The town, built around coal mining operations, has long struggled with ageing infrastructure, erratic pumping and a growing population.
Zinwa officially took over water management in many small towns, including Hwange, years ago.
But residents frequently complain that the authority is unresponsive and that breakdowns at key pumping stations go unfixed for weeks.
During dry spells, the Hwange aquifer shows signs of strain, worsening shortages in high-density suburbs like Empumalanga.