Ward 17 residents in Pumula, Bulawayo, have raised concern over the shortage of alternative water sources in their area.
The residents, speaking during an election debate series hosted by CITE, Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA) and Habakkuk Trust, Thursday, said the next councillor must address that challenge considering the perennial water challenges affecting the city at large.
The candidates competing for the council seat are Sikhululekile Moyo (CCC), Nkosilathi Moyo (Zanu-PF), Ntombizodwa Moyo (ZAPU), Silitha Mhlanga (Free Zim Congress) and Nosizo Mpungwa (EFF).
“It is worrying that none of the candidates here have explicitly explained how they will address water challenges in our community. We do not have even one borehole here. We want a councillor who will address this challenge for us,” a resident said.
“We also have the issue of sewer bursts in our community. Look at the filth that has been caused by sewer bursts. The pipes are now dilapidated. We want to know how you will convince the council to change these pipes for us because we are affected by this,” another resident noted.
Another resident from Robert Sinyoka complained that some of the aspiring councillors are not known to them, and inquired how they will represent them if they do not interact with the people.
“Out of the candidates that have been introduced to us, we only know two. The rest we have never seen at Robert Sinyoka. How will we vote for them? We have road challenges, environmental degradation, water challenges, and no clinic, but I doubt these people know all that. Can they also come to us so that we tell them about the challenges we are facing? If they get into the office now, they will continue focusing on specific sections of the ward and forget about us,” the resident said.
Ntombizodwa Moyo from ZAPU promised that she will approach the relevant council offices to ensure that sewer challenges are addressed. She said the concerns are genuine as the residents are exposed to water-borne diseases.
Sitting councillor Sikhululekile Moyo explained that drilling boreholes in the ward would be a challenge because of the hard rock underneath.
“Engineers from the council said there is a rock underneath so we can’t drill boreholes. Instead, we can install water kiosks at various places that are convenient to the people. So far one has been established. The council is still finalising logistics to put up everything,” she said.
“On the issue of blocked sewer, we implore the residents to work together with council to safeguard infrastructure. I have been called by council staff several times showing me things that are removed from drainage systems and sewer pipes-from jeans, pads, utensils and in some rare incident-a baby. We, as residents need to play our part too to protect our infrastructure.”
