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Over 3 000 residents at Ngundu Growth Point in Chivi have been thrown a lifeline after the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) restored water supplies at the sprawling transit urban settlement, where taps had been dry for the past month.

Acute water shortage at the growth point along the Masvingo-Beitbridge Highway had sparked fears of disease outbreaks as residents resorted to water from unsafe sources.

The growth point also lies on the junction of Masvingo-Beitbridge Highway and the Ngundu-Tanganda Highway, making it handle a large influx of travellers, apart from its growing population.

Zinwa corporate communications and marketing manager Mrs Marjorie Munyonga said  the water woes at Ngundu were due to a breakdown of an electric transformer that powered a pump supplying water to the growth.

She said Zinwa had installed a generator to provide power to the water treatment plant at the growth point, while Zesa was fixing the transformer.

The generator has been pumping water for Ngundu since last week for eight hours per day, bringing relief to residents.

“ZINWA, therefore, wishes to thank the residents of Ngundu for their patience during the prolonged period they did not have water,” she said. “Zinwa will continue to work on the improvement of service in the area and hopes to resume normal pumping once the power situation gets rectified.’’

Mrs Munyonga appealed to water users in and around Ngundu to use water sparingly.

Chivi Rural District Council chief executive Mr Tariro Matavire hailed Zinwa for addressing water challenges at the growth, particularly in the wake of fears of disease outbreak.

“Ngundu Growth point is the busiest growth point in Chivi and the need for uninterrupted supply of water cannot be over emphasised,” he said. — Masvingo Bureau.