Last year, the council received $3 million from the Ministry of Finance to upgrade its water and sewer and reticulation system.
The local authority promised to bring water to residents by January this year but nothing has materialised after the company awarded the tender to supply the pipes failed to deliver.
Corruption and nepotism has been cited as the major impediments. Some councillors were fingered in the scam but to date no culprits have been brought to book.
Due to pressure and complaints from increasingly frustrated residents, the MPs for the city, lnnocent Gonese and Giles Mutsekwa, together with councillors and Ratepayers Association representatives toured the water projects to get first hand information.
At Hobhouse, the MPs met face to face with reality – a group of women and children doing their laundry in a pool of dirty water.
The irate women expressed concern over lack of access to clean water in their area for years.
“We have never accessed clean water from our taps since time immemorial. We were given some empty promises by politicians. This is the kind of life we are living – exposed to all sorts of diseases. This is our laundry area for years,” said one woman.
Others said the council has not been communicating about latest developments concerning the water projects.
“We are like people living in rural areas but we are in a city. It’s sad,”
said Martha Bwawo.
During the tour, city engineer, Donald Nyatoti said: “We have been facing some logistics and financial challenges but we promise that by June this year the project will be completed.”
Post published in: News