KEY POINTS
- Chiredzi’s outdated water system provides 8 megalitres per day but requires 15 megalitres to meet demand.
- Residents demand urgent action from the town council to improve water services.
- The council has prioritized upgrading the water system as a key project for 2025.
Residents of Chiredzi, a significant sugar-producing town in Zimbabwe, are dealing with an increasingly dire water situation as a result of the irregular water supply.
Local leaders and residents are calling on the Chiredzi Town Council to take immediate action in response to the scarcity, which has sparked worries about possible water-borne illnesses.
Residents of the town stressed during recent budget deliberations for 2025 that the council should give priority to modernizing the antiquated water infrastructure, which now provides 8 megaliters per day compared to a need of 15 megaliters.
Pressure from the community
Kennedy Javangwe, vice chairman of the Chiredzi Low and Medium Density Residents Association, is among the community leaders who have urged the town council to enhance water services.
Javangwe emphasized that “we expect the council to prioritize upgrading the water system and addressing the critical needs of our town.” Jonathan Shoniwa, the chairman of the Chiredzi Residents and Rate Payers Association, reiterated this opinion and emphasized the pressing need for a dependable water supply.
Simbarashe Bhasera, Chiredzi’s water supervisor, clarified that the town’s infrastructure has not kept up with its population expansion since it was built in 1986 for 7,000 people. Bhasera mentioned several wards in the town when he said, “We have areas that receive no water at all.”
Upgrades are necessary because the current system, which was designed for a far lower population, is finding it difficult to fulfill demands today.
Council’s efforts and future plans
Improvements to the water infrastructure are a key priority, according to Councillor Jameson Charumbira, the chairman of Chiredzi Town, who acknowledged the problem.
He emphasized the benefits of devolution money, which have played a key role in building out local schools and health facilities.
These funds have supported projects like Lowlands Primary School and the Makondo Clinic, which is now 90 percent complete. Charumbira stressed that the primary goal for 2025 will be to upgrade the town’s water supply.
Charumbira also mentioned how the national government’s devolution initiative has aided several urban councils in Zimbabwe that are dealing with comparable issues.
The town council is still under pressure to lead the effort to address the ongoing water situation, though.
Challenges and outlook
Water shortages in Chiredzi are a symptom of a larger problem in many Zimbabwean cities, as aging infrastructure cannot keep up with growing demand.
Reliable water availability is essential because of the town’s continually increasing population and its reliance on the sugar sector for economic growth. The town council should work harder to improve water services and stop the potential growth of water-borne ailments.
Chiredzi’s water system renovation must be successful in order to support the town’s ongoing growth and protect the health and welfare of its citizens.
