Chitungwiza mayor speaks on water crisis, corruption and fuel theft

By Tererai Karimakwenda
07 October 2005

The town of Chitungwiza has not been spared during the critical water shortages that have hit most of the country. We received a report from “Chitown” resident who said water had been cut off from units O and G, but Chitungwiza mayor Misheck Shoko explained what is actually happening and gave us a brief update on the corruption and fuel theft taking place as well.

Mayor Shoko said Chitungwiza is receiving water from Harare on even numbered days only. When the water is turned on, it fills the areas that are in the low lying altitudes first, and by the time the pressure reaches the higher sections, the supply is disconnected until the next even day. As a result, areas like units O, B and G wind up with no water most of the time.

Mayor Shoko also talked about the continuing fight against corruption in Chitungwiza. He said that last Tuesday the council voted to suspend the town engineer Gorejena Chiseve for misleading the mayor, the council and the ministry of local government regarding progress on the reconstruction programme Operation Garikai. Chiseve was also accused of negligence and blamed for the deaths of 2 people who died a very painful death in August when they fell into sewer pits that were not covered. The engineer had not put any warning signs at the site. There are several other minor charges that also contributed to his suspension. An investigation is pending.

Finally, Mayor Shoko reported that the town’s fuel is being stolen from storage depot and sold on the black market at Chikwana. Consignments of about 10,000 litres are being used up within 3 days due to these thefts.