Power outages leave Gwanda town dry

Local
Gwanda Progressive Resident Association chairperson Collert Moyo said there was a water crisis because of constant load shedding that disrupted the water pumping system.

GWANDA town residents have raised concerns over shortage of water following the persistent power cuts that have crippled the whole nation.

Speaking to Southern Eye, Gwanda Progressive Resident Association chairperson Collert Moyo said there was a water crisis because of constant load shedding that disrupted the water pumping system.

“The water issue is very critical due to the constant load shedding that has been happening in the town. This has hugely affected the water pumping system,” Moyo said.

“Electricity is only restored during the night and goes off early in the morning, so the pumping system has been critically affected. The entire town is now going for three to four days without water.

“It has been difficult for all the townships to access water because electricity is restored at 11pm and goes off at 4am so water cannot be pumped to all places.”

He indicated that they rarely face difficulties in accessing water because their source of water does not have any issues as it is located in a low area and water flows to it because of gravity.

“It’s not that there is no water, the only problem is the unavailability of power to pump water,” he said.

He added that there was a Chinese company that had been collecting water from their source hence it was feared that it might disrupt the pumping system.

“For some days we have been worried about this Chinese company which is getting water from the river. It might end up disturbing our pumping system.”

Moyo said there was an investor that wanted to partner the local authority to install solar as the main source of electricity.

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