Martin Muleya
MUTARE CITY-In a move aimed at alleviating the water crisis in Gimboki the City of Mutare has established affordable and accessible water kiosks for the residents.
This initiative is also intended to curb the exploitation of residents by water barons who have been selling the commodity at exorbitant prices.
For years, residents of Gimboki area have been struggling to access clean and affordable water forcing them to rely on water barons who have been charging as much as US$10 per 1000 litres of water.
However, with the introduction of water kiosks, residents can now access water at affordable prices.
According to City of Mutare acting director engineering services Kurainashe Mugwagwa residents will need to purchase water coupons at council offices, which will then be used to collect water from the kiosks.
“This is indeed an exciting development that we are implementing with Vitens Evides International (VEI) to address long-standing water accessibility challenges in the area. For years residents of Gimboki have been at the mercy of water barons, paying exorbitant prices of around US$10 for every 1000 litres of water.
“Through this initiative, we are proud to say that residents will be able to access the same quantity of clean, and safe water at approximately one-tenth of that cost once the tariff has been finalized by Council,” explained Eng. Mugwagwa.
He reiterated that the local authority was working with an expert from Kenya who has installed similar kiosks in several countries in Africa. This solution has been tried and tested with great success in those countries that had similar challenges like Zimbabwe.
“The water kiosks project is more than just about providing water- it is about transforming and preserving lives. We are bringing reliable, affordable and clean water closer to the community. We are no longer walking long distances with heavy containers, no more uncertainty about water quality and most importantly no more exploitation by water barons.
“The City of Mutare together with our partners at VEI, is committed to ensuring that every resident has access to clean water at a fair price. This project demonstrates our dedication to improving the quality of life for our residents and creating sustainable solutions for our communities,” added Eng. Mugwagwa.
The response from the community has been overwhelming, with some volunteering to assist with labour to excavate and lay the pipes.
“We are thrilled that our local authority has finally taken steps to address our water woes. The water barons have been taking advantage of us for too long, and we are grateful that we can now access water at a price we can afford,” noted Kennedy Chikumbu a resident in Gimboki Phase 2.
