Government takes over water services in Bulawayo

By Tererai Karimakwenda
19 January 2006

The Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) last week informed the city of Bulawayo that they will be taking over all water supply services as early as the end of January. In a letter written to the Mayor and town clerk, ZINWA said they had a cabinet directive authorising the change. Our correspondent Warren Moroka spoke to Mayor Japhet Ndabeni Ncube who expressed deep reservations about the move. The ZINWA takeover will mean the city of Bulawayo loses 40% of its revenue base. The Mayor also doubted ZINWA’s ability to supply adequate water to the city.

ZINWA Moroka said the cabinet directive was issued despite recommendations by a parliamentary portfolio committee which said the ZINWA takeover was not a good idea. There was also a second report issued by the auditor general which saw no merit in giving ZINWA authority to take over Bulawayo’s water services. Both reports considered the fact that ZINWA had failed to provide adequate water service for much smaller municipalities around the country.

The water authority was found to be seriously in debt as well. Moroka pointed out that ZINWA had taken over Harare’s water service last year and made a total mess of it. As we have been reporting the water quality in the capital has deteriorated a great deal since the takeover. Residents report seeing brown or yellowish substances in their tap water and supplies have been unreliable. Moroka said ZINWA needs at least US$ 80 million to revamp Harare’s water infrastructure which is spilling raw sewage into drinking water sources. ZINWA does not have the money. Moroka said most officials privately accuse the government of raising funds through its own institutions like ZINWA and ZESA.