Without clean and portable water, a once peaceful suburb has been transformed to violence and chaos as residents wrestle for the precious liquid at few water points.
Leonorah Mwembe
Zvishavane – Nyasha Maoko walks down the road in the high density of Noeville, Zvishavane. She feels discouraged to join the long queue but the need of the precious liquid makes her join hundreds of other residents. The residential area is facing water challenges causing havoc and misunderstandings among the residents as they stampede for the few water points.
“We fetch water from our taps once in two weeks and it only comes for few hours, which is not enough for us to fill all our containers because of the long queues,” says Maoko, a resident.
The water crisis has been exacerbated due to water pipe breakages, which has not been maintained for some time. Travelling around the residential area shows a suburb neglected by the local authorities. Land pollution is on the increase as people have resorted to use the bush due to lack of water to flash the toilets. A situation health officials have described as hazardous.
Health officials who spoke on condition of anonymity as they had no permission to speak to the press said, the water crisis exposes residents to cholera and other health related issues.
Noeville dilemma started at the beginning of this year. According to UNICEF more than 1 million people die each year from a lack of access to safe water and sanitation due to health impacts alone. Lack of access to safe water also affects the physical well-being of women and children who have no choice but to carry heavy containers for long distances.
“We expect the council to make sure that they provide us with the water. We cannot bear the situation anymore. People are ending up resorting to unsafe water sources. This is hazardous to our health,” says Elina Marufu, a resident.
Midlands State University (MSU) students at Zvishavane campus living in the suburb of Noevile have ben not spared. Lack of clean portable water has impacted their attendance and performance at college. In response to the crisis, most of the landlords of the houses were many MSU students are renting have decided to buy ‘Jojo’ tanks were they can store water when it comes and use it sparingly during the dry period.
“The water we store in the tank and tubs only last us for 6 days and it will be hard for the other days when we can not use the toilets and this is causing us resorting to the bush,” said Petronella Sibanda, a student at MSU, “Imagine I am a young woman, so the water crisis is risking the lives and health of many girls out there.”
Speaking on the situation, the authorities has urged conservation measures.
“When the water comes, people must make sure that they fill all buckets available, tanks and even bathing tubs so that they can have enough water for the days you go without water,” said Gabriel Ruzive, a member of the Zvishavane Water and Supply Council.
Residents insists that a long lasting solution is required beyond home water storage. The Besana Mail.
