The Beitbridge Progressive Residents and Ratepayers Development Trust (BPRRADT) has urged the government to invest in the upgrade of water infrastructure to ensure all residents have access to clean and potable drinking water.
This appeal comes as the Parliament of Zimbabwe yesterday approved the ratification of the agreement between the Government of the Republic of South Africa and the Republic of Zimbabwe on the supply of treated water from Beitbridge water treatment works in Zimbabwe to Musina Town.
The initiative aims to address ongoing water shortages in Musina, an area frequently plagued by service delivery protests over water supply issues.
Rising on a notice of motion by Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Resettlement, the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Ziyambi Ziyambi said Section 327 (2) (a) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe provides that any convention, treaty or agreement acceded to, concluded or executed by or under the authority of the President with one or more foreign states of governments or international organisations shall be subject to approval by Parliament.
“And where as the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of South Africa and the Republic of Zimbabwe on the Supply of Treated Water from Beit Bridge Water Treatment Works in Zimbabwe to Musina Town (hereinafter “the Agreement”) was signed on 14 March 2024 at Musina, South Africa; and whereas the Republic of Zimbabwe has not ratified the Agreement; and whereas the Republic of Zimbabwe is desirous to ratify the Agreement; now, therefore, in terms of section 327 (2) (a) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, this House resolves that the Agreement be and is hereby approved,” said Ziyambi.
Speaking to CITE, the BPRRADT Chairperson Vhidzwani Mudau said there had no issues with sharing water with Musina.
Mudau said as residents of Beitbridge, they would, however, like to urge the government together with the local authority to continue investing in the upgrade and expansion of their water infrastructure so that all residents have access to clean, portable drinking water which by the way is a right as enshrined in our constitution.
Meanwhile, others felt that the government and the Municipality would have done well if they prioritised residents first.
“As we speak, over 300 residential houses are still without water and not connected. The six wards under the Municipality of Beitbridge get water at intervals and some properties go for over a week without water but the Municipality is already gearing to sell water to Musina,” said one resident.
Another resident said, “ I thought Zimbabwe must satisfy the domestic demand first before exporting. Why export a commodity which is in shortage in this country? Access to water is a fundamental right in the Constitution of Zimbabwe.”
A further suggestion from a resident was for Zimbabwe to export untreated water, allowing South African authorities to handle the treatment process themselves.
