Ward 23 Councilor Ntombizodwa Khumalo has cautioned borehole committees against charging residents for access to water during Bulawayo’s ongoing water crisis.
As the city endures a 120-hour water-shedding schedule, many residents have been forced to rely on boreholes and alternative water sources.
Speaking at a residents’ meeting organised by the Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA) over the weekend, Councilor Khumalo raised concerns about the emerging practice of charging for borehole water.
“Some residents are being made to pay a dollar for a period to access borehole water, while others are charged each time they fetch water or even per bucket. Let’s respect each other at the boreholes and prioritize residents in high-lying areas who don’t receive water as easily. We must ensure that they have first access to the water,” Councilor Khumalo said.
She called for an immediate stop to charging residents for borehole water access, urging communities to restructure their borehole committees.
“There are some boreholes where residents are being asked to pay. This practice must stop immediately. We need to reorganise the borehole committees. Each borehole should have seven representatives who are accountable to the community and serve the ward’s needs,” she emphasised.
Khumalo also addressed concerns about some committee members refusing to step down despite no longer acting in the community’s best interests.
“Some individuals have held onto their positions for too long. This is your community. If they are no longer serving you well, let’s come together as a community and elect a new borehole committee that satisfies everyone and ensures access to water without any issues. Children, women, and men should not face any form of abuse when accessing water. It is a basic right for everyone,” she said.
Khumalo stressed that the community holds the power to replace borehole committees if they fail to perform their duties.
“The community should decide if a certain committee should continue or if a change is necessary. Let’s treat each other with respect. If there are challenges with a particular borehole, we need to fix the committee this week so that they can receive proper training from Africa Ahead,” Councilor Khumalo concluded.
