Power cuts cripple Masvingo water works

TATENDA CHIKARA IN MASVINGO

Crippling power cuts have hampered the city of Masvingo’s capacity to pump water from Bushmead water works into the city, Business Times can report.

In a statement this week, the local authority said there was no estimated time of restoration.

“The city fathers would like to notify residents and ratepayers that there is going to be an interruption in water supply due to power outage at Bushmead water works. There is no estimated time of restoration at this stage,” part of the statement reads.

However, the Masvingo Residents and Rate-payers Alliance spokesperson Godfrey Mutimba said the city council should invest in solar powered energy or engage ZESA to solve power cuts issues at water works.

“… As residents’ association, we are saying the city council should not rely much on ZESA to get [Bushmead] powered to pump water to residents. This is affecting residents because when there is no electricity, residents do not get water. We urge the city fathers to invest in solar energy or engage ZESA not to interrupt power at the strategic place,” Mutimba said.

In its budget statement for 2023 presented recently, the city fathers have budgeted for US$2.6m on water and sewer infrastructure.