Zanu (PF) in bid to control Bulawayo through ZINWA

By Tichaona Sibanda
15 February 2007

The top leadership of the Tsvangirai led MDC in Bulawayo resolved on Wednesday to resist moves by the government to control water management in the city through Zinwa.

Since Bulawayo lies in a drought prone region, water is considered a valuable commodity in the city. Information and Publicity secretary for Bulawayo Felix Mafa told us there was concern among residents the government will want to use water as a political tool to whip the anti-Zanu (PF) people of the city into line.

‘The government knows it has no support in the city, so people feel if residents vote otherwise, Zanu (PF) will shut down water supplies to the city. This has happened at irrigation schemes where people perceived to be from the opposition have had water supplies cut-off by the government,’ Mafa said.

Munacho Mutezo, minister of Water Resources and Infrastructural Development has failed to convince the MDC led council to hand over management of the water to Zinwa.

Even the top leadership of Zanu (PF) asked Mutezo to go back to Cabinet and convey the message that people in the city were not interested in the take-over.

Zimonline reported that sources that attended the closed-door meeting between Mutezo and the Zanu (PF) leadership said the takeover was flatly rejected with arguments that the City Council was doing a good job.

There were suggestions government should prioritise the connection of the city to Mtshabezi Dam and also resuscitate boreholes in the Nyamandlovu aquifers before the city runs dry.

‘Instead of looking at solving the issue of where the residents will get water from when water supplies run dry, government is busy trying to get hold of the city’s cash cow. Revenue from water rates helps a lot of people in the city. If Zinwa takes over, government will use that money to develop areas outside the city,’ Mafa said.

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