Mabvuku woman dies fetching water from a burst pipe

By Staff Writer
04 November 2005

An unidentified woman was tragically killed in Mabvuku, Harare on Friday morning when she was struck by a car while jostling to get water from a burst water pipe.

The incident took place along Donnybrooke road where residents of Mabvuku had rushed to fetch water from a burst pipe along the road in Ward 21.

Mabvuku residents have gone for weeks without water and when word got around that there was a burst pipe, multitudes of residents rushed to the scene, were they where confronted by baton wielding municipal policemen.

Combined Harare Residents Association’s information officer, Precious Shumba condemned the action of the municipal police, who allegedly beat up the women, causing the unidentified lady to slip and fall onto the tarmac were she was run over by a vehicle.

Shumba said water from the burst pipe was ‘a gift from God’ for the residents, considering that they hade gone for weeks without the precious commodity.

‘The action of the municipal police was unwarranted and insensitive. These were people trying to get water for their washing, toilets and cooking,’ said Shumba.