MOSES MADYIRA
CHIKOMBA-Zanu PF has allegedly barred ZINWA from drilling boreholes in CCC controlled wards in Chivhu fearing that the programme could give opposition councilors an upper hand in the forthcoming elections.
The move has however backfired on the ruling party as residents have condemned it as being retrogressive politics.
ZINWA is currently drilling boreholes in the district under the Presidential Rural Water Scheme and the ruling party local leadership are adamant that they are the ones who must be leading the programme to make sure all credit goes to them.
Two boreholes have been drilled per ward in two Chivhu urban wards controlled by the ruling party namely ward 10 and 11 led by Tafadzwa Mukandi and Pedzisayi Muhenyeri respectively. The problem arose when boreholes were to be drilled in CCC controlled ward 9 and 12 where the ruling party leadership made sure to block the programme to avoid opposition councilors from getting credit from the President’s initiative.
It is alleged that there was a fierce exchange of words between Zanu PF leadership and Ward 9 Councillor Christopher Muchenje after the latter abruptly appeared while ZINWA was drilling a first borehole in the ward. The ruling party’s local leadership which was led by DCC Chair Venon Muringani, Zanu PF ward 9 Chairman Hendrick Muringani and the ruling party’s aspiring councilor Tamanikwa allegedly demanded an explanation why Muchenje had not notified them to which he blankly replied it was none of their business. The project is being spearheaded by the ward councilor.
The argument became tense and the engineer had to abandon the project altogether after finishing casing the first borehole which means water problems for most parts of Northwood suburbs continue. Most parts Chivhu’s low density suburbs, Northwood and Buckenhill which fall under ward 9 and 12 respectively are not yet connected to ZINWA and people solely rely on well water which becomes unclean during the rainy season and dry during the summer. Some residents in ward 9 fetch water from the nearby stream. The borehole programme had come as a relief to residents of these suburbs but fight for power from politicians means they have to endure water problems for much longer.
The MidweekWatch is in possession of audios allegedly sent by Zanu PF leadership in ward 12 notifying residents that they were not going to get a borehole because they voted the opposition councilor urging them to desist from voting opposition councilors in the forthcoming elections.
Ward 9 Councilor Christopher Muchenje said the drillers abandoned the program after Zanu PF aspiring councilor and DCC chair came and ordered the engineer to stop drilling the borehole.
“It came as a shock to see the PDIO stopping borehole drillers and saying as a Zanu Pf aspiring councilor he deserves a share of the two boreholes. He wanted his share to be drilled in in Rooiport to which I argued the place is under a land developer Mr Mawena. I also told him I considered Northwood areas that are not connected to Zinwa to get the first priority and there is no going back on pegged sites.
“The drillers had to abandon the drilling of the second borehole as the DCC chair also joined the sentiments which is denial of a basic right to residents of the affected site by representatives of Zanu PF and at the end purport to want to lead the same people they are denying water,” said Muchenje.
Ward 12 councilor Ismael Maukazuva said Zanu Pf leaders were being childish and exposing themselves that they are the once blocking development in societies through sabotage.
“Zanu Pf leaders are being childish and exposing themselves that they are the once blocking development in our areas through trying to sabotage opposition councilors. The money being used is not from Zanu PF so they don’t have to interfere and blocking drilling of boreholes because I am a CCC councilor.
“We need political maturity from the ruling party, actually it’s naïve, myopic and unprofessional to deny people their constitutional right to water just because there is an opposition councilor,” said Maukazuva.
Zanu PF chairman for ward 9 Hendrick Muketiwa refused to comment on the issue and referred all questions to the DCC Chair.
Efforts to get a comment from DCC Chair Venon Muringani was fruitless as he repeatedly said he was in his rural home hence could not comment over the phone.
“If reports that the ruling party leaders bars drilling of boreholes in opposition wards are true it shows that Zanu PF is not for the people. It’s unbelievable and stupidity to bar development just because of power, councilors have a mandate to spearhead any development in their respective wards because they were voted by the people.
“It’s unheard of, anti-development what we need is development regardless of politics. Zanu PF should reprimand their leaders,” said Zvarevashe.
