Beitbridge residents are protesting the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) and the Lands and Agriculture ministry’s decision of cutting off water supply to one of the country’s busiest ports of entry.
After the border town spent several days without water, Zinwa disconnected water supplies to all its debtors nationwide on Friday.
In a statement, Zinwa said various organisations, mostly government agencies owed it $2.4 billion. While Beitbridge town owes Zinwa $205 million, while Gwanda town owes $193 million.
Many residents said they were unable to pay their water bills due to COVID-19 lockdown restrictions. Several civil servants, businessmen, shipping agents and transporters at Beitbridge said Zinwa and the Lands and Agriculture ministry should have approached Treasury to pay the water bills.
Yesterday, Zinwa spokesperson Marjorie Munyonga said Beitbridge residents should approach their local authority for payment plans.
“Defence and Local Government ministries have settled part of their bills and we have connected sections that suit what they have paid. Government is fully aware of these disconnections because various departments were given money to pay by Treasury but they use it for other items,” Munyonga said.
Some Beitbridge residents were forced to use bush toilets after they ran out of water.