MUTARE-A health time bomb is ticking for Mutare residents following serious electricity load shedding that has hit the water pumping works.
As a result some important areas like the main Mutare Provincial Hospital and city clinics have been affected.
The situation has been compounded by the recent breaking down of the generator.
In a statement released on Tuesday the City Of Mutare said: “Notice is given to all residents and stakeholders of Mutare that the city may experience water shortages in the face of power cuts due to the break down of the generator at Odzani Water Treatment Plant. Our engineers are working tirelessly to restore normal water production and supply.”
Most industries were on Tuesday operating without water. The most affected were the food processing industries that saw some closing shop while others collected water from the Sakubva river and other sources.
Meanwhile, Zimunya Township has gone more than six months without running taped water in most areas due to load shedding. According to residents the load shedding has affected the township’s main water pump.
The councillor for the area Hebert Gonyora confirmed these serious water shortages.
“The situation has become critical. There is an urgent need to solve this because we might have serious health implications,” he said.
“We have tried to engage the DDF (District Development Fund) to resuscitate a borehole but they have told us that currently they do not have the personnel to work on it,” he explained.
Gonyora said this has left residents looking for water from unprotected sources exposing them to some serious health hazards.
