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Runesu Gwidi in Gutu
A long-running standoff pitting Mpandawana Town and the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) is far from over with the former vowing to petition Parliament to intervene in the raging dispute.

Mpandawana residents want Zinwa to cede water supply duties to the local town board now controlled by Gutu Rural District Council.

Residents are unhappy with the water management body’s failure to guarantee uninterrupted supplies in the fledgling town.

Gutu Apex, a body representing five residents and ratepayers’ associations in the town, have been at loggerheads with Zinwa demanding that the local authority take over water supply responsibilities.

The Apex board chair Mr Simbarashe Tarugarira yesterday vowed to continue fighting until Zinwa was relieved of water supply duties at Mpandawana.

“The resolution by Gutu Apex to seek transfer of water treatment and distribution from Zinwa to Gutu RDC is already in place. Once a Government is sworn into office we will submit our petition to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Environment, Water and Climate so that Gutu RDC takes over supply of water in Mpandawana Town.”

Mr Tarugarira said among other things, Zinwa was failing to speedily attend to reported water-related problems in the town. He said residents were fed up with Zinwa’s failure to address their concerns.

“The bulk of work (in supplying water) is done by Gutu RDC yet Zinwa collects revenue which is realised from water sales from Mpandawana residents, it is like Zinwa reaping where they did not sow,” said Mr Tarugarira.

The Gutu Apex chair said residents in the town agreed to temporarily shelve the push for Zinwa to cede water supply duties until after the July 30 harmonised elections.

“Mpandawana residents are particularly unhappy with the red tape at Zinwa and most areas in Mpandawana have been experiencing acute water shortages for many years now, we will surely approach the new Government over the burning issue,” he  said.