Ward three residents in Chiredzi district have come out guns blazing castigating council for forcibly removing water taps for defaulters despite the constitution guaranteeing citizens the right to water.
By Moses Chibaya
Speaking during the Communalities in Action road show, citizens said they are experiencing acute water shortages in the area, despite, them paying water bills.
“We are experiencing water problems in this area. Council removed water taps for defaulters which is not good because most people here are not working. They must fix the taps for people to access clean water,” said Timothy Mugwagwa of ward three.
The Communities in Action campaign intends to increase and strengthen the organised and active involvement of citizens on local governance issues. The project also focuses on helping citizens engage local leaders on substantive issues of community action.
Ward three residents who still have access to water said despite them paying water bills and owing council nothing they only get tap water for two hours daily.
Citizens demanded minutes of full council meetings so that they have an understanding of how their money is being used since council has dismally failed to supply them with clean water consistently.
“They are refusing to give us minutes of full council meetings. We need to know how our money that we are paying is being used,” said disgruntled Matilda Mapeni of ward three.
Chiredzi residents citizens said their councillors are not coming back with the feedback of what is taking place at council level and what delineated during the council meetings.
The Communities in Action Campaign is creating a platform for engagement between citizens and their local leaders that is the village heads, chiefs and the elected councillors.
The campaign was born out of the realisation of lack of engagement platforms between local leaders and citizens. In addition the baseline survey that was done by the organisation indicated that citizens are not empowered to speak and sometimes do not know what their rights are.
