GWANDA The council has been blamed for crippling operations of the countrys water authority by failing to pay its outstanding debts that amount to US$1.7 million.
According to the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA), the situation is making it difficult for the water authority to provide an efficient service to the town.
Gwanda residents spent four days last week without water due to a breakdown of a valve at the Gwanda Weir.
Zinwa catchment manager for Umzingwane Tommy Rosen said the Gwanda local authority had not paid for water since a Government directive that Zinwa hand over water reticulation to councils a few years ago.
He said the operational challenges which led to the shortage of water last week were a result of non-payment by the local authority.
The Gwanda council asked Zinwa to oversee the supply of water in the town some six years ago, a development which went on until the directive by the ministry to give back water reticulation to councils. This is the time when they stopped paying rates resulting in debts accumulating to about US$1, 7 million, he said.
Rosen said the councils monthly bill stood at US$150 000.
He alleged that the Gwanda council was not willing to pay as it had continuously ignored calls by the water authority to honour its dues. Rosen said the debt had a direct effect on the parastatals ability to provide efficient service.
The amount they have remitted is inadequate to sustain operations. The situation has a direct effect in our ability to effect efficient service, he said.
Efforts to get a comment from the Gwanda Town Council were fruitless as the town clerk was said to be out of town, while the mayor is with the constitution-writing outreach teams.
Post published in: News