The Sunday News
Leonard Ncube and Lingani Nyika, Victoria Falls Reporters
THE Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) finally handed over raw water management rights to Victoria Falls City Council and the signing ceremony was held on Friday, marking the beginning of devolution of water supply to the city.
The local authority started the process of engaging Zinwa towards takeover of raw water pumping rights in 2014.
The Government dispatched a Commission of Inquiry in July 2017 to look into council’s capabilities and the recommendation favoured devolution of water supply management functions to Victoria Falls City Council.
When President Mnangagwa granted the municipality city status in December 2020, he instructed that Zinwa hands over the responsibility of supplying water to the council.
“While this is an achievement for the local authority, residents should understand that taking over raw water management does not mean that water will immediately become cheaper but the physical handover is the first stage of a process to be followed by systems handover,” Victoria Falls city’s public relations and economic development officer Mr Ngqabutho Moyo said after the handover ceremony.
Chief Director for Water Resources and Irrigation Development in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Resettlement Engineer Tinayesu Mutazu, Zinwa chief executive Engineer Taurai Maurukira led the handover signing ceremony in the presence of Matabeleland North Provincial Development Coordinator Mrs Sithandiwe Ncube who represented the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works.
Mrs Ncube commended Zinwa and the council for a smooth handover-take over and challenged the local authority to work hard and create a world class water and sewer system.
“This development is critical in the development of our socio-economic strata as it works towards further buttressing our tourism and investment drive in line with Vision 2030 which reflects collective aspirations and determination of the people of Zimbabwe.
“Water delivery is pivotal in the investment drive as the availability of water is the basis of development while development of Victoria Falls translates to the need to develop more resources. As a ministry we shall be available to support the local authority,” said Mrs Ncube.
Eng Mutazu said attainment of city status brought the need to devolve water supply. He said several other local authorities have applied to have management of raw water rights and the Government will be careful in considering their plight.
“We are excited. When a commission was sent here the process was not to say no, but to make sure we are satisfied.
If all local authorities manage to supply water then Central Government will only be there to monitor and evaluate while Zinwa will be there to monitor on behalf of Central Government. We implore the two entities to honour what you have agreed on and ensure a seamless service delivery,” he said.
Acting Victoria Falls Town Clerk Ms Kholwani Mangena said the development was an indication of great strides that have been taken by the council in its pursuit of improving service delivery. She said the position was informed by the need to provide a seamless service from abstraction to the distribution point which is achievable under one institution.
“As a city we are elated as this move is in line with the Government’s thrust to devolve powers and responsibilities to local authorities in order to deliver efficient quality service to the people. We would like to express our gratitude to Zinwa which has been supportive throughout the process. We will continue to work together as both organisations share the same mandate of pumping water to residents. To the residents who might be asking how this is beneficial to them, having the entire water supply chain under one roof will certainly improve efficiency in service provision,” she said.
Mayor Councillor Somveli Dlamini said the new city’s aspirations are anchored on commitment towards delivery of quality services to residents and visitors from across the globe.
He said water supply remains a fundamental point from where council aspirations can be achieved, adding that the council was indebted to President Mnangagwa for his development thrust hence the onus was now on the local authority to play its part towards development.
“Time has come for the city to take responsibility and move towards attaining the greater goals echoed by our vision to be a smart competitive green city sustaining a well-developed community and offering a safe tourist and investment destination of choice by 2030.
“This moment today will grant us space to proactively deliberate on planning processes in delivery of water in a coordinated way. Water is a crucial element in our tourism and investment drive as it grants our visitors a safe and healthy destination,” he said.
