Availability of water in both urban and rural areas is a critical subject that is inevitably linked to national economic and social development. It is precisely for this reason that the Government of Zimbabwe through the ZINWA Act (Chapter 20:25) mandated the Zimbabwe National Water Authority to, among other functions, be responsible for the optimum planning, management and development of water resources in the country.
However, it is imperative to recognise the crucial role played by local authorities in ensuring that our cities and towns have water.
The importance of understanding the relationship between ZINWA and local authorities in connection with the provision of water can therefore, self-evidently never be overemphasised.
It is vital that people acquire proper understanding of the roles ZINWA and local authorities play towards the water situation in various parts of the coun- try.
Failure to identify and separate the roles of ZINWA from those of local authorities has created a lot of confusion and as a result, more often than not, all water-related misgivings have unfairly been blamed on ZINWA.
It is vital for residents in any city, town or growth point to know who, between ZINWA and the local authority, is responsible especially for treatment and reticulation of water in their area.
Whilst ZINWA is responsible for the overall management of water resources in the country, it is crucial to understand how the discharge of that mandate is linked to internal operations of local authorities.
The relationship between ZINWA and local authorities varies depending on whether or not the local authority has the capacity to manage the treatment and reticulation of water for its area of jurisdiction.
For the avoidance of doubt and as clearly detailed in the ZINWA Act, ZINWA treats and reticulates water only in small towns and growth points where local authorities do not have the capacity to provide that ser- vice.
Examples of towns and growth points which fall under this category are Chivhu, Karoi, Gutu, Murehwa, Sadza, Hwedza, Ngundu, Rutenga, Nkayi, Lupane, Jotsholo, Beatrice, Mutoko, Macheke, Shamva, Nzvimbo and Concession among others.
However, in some areas such as Gwanda, ZINWA sells treated bulk water to the local authority which will take over responsibility for the reticulation process. In that case residents pay for their water to the council and the local authority is the one that pays to ZINWA.
In big cities such as Harare, Bulawayo, Gweru, Mutare, Masvingo, Chinhoyi, the treatment and reticulation process is entirely the responsibility of local authorities with ZINWA’s main obligation being provision of raw water from the dams, rivers or weirs.
It is also necessary to remember that ZINWA’s mandate similarly involves groundwater planning, management and development.
Even in the major cities where ZINWA does not provide treated water, the Authority and sub-catchment councils are responsible for the management of groundwater.
With borehole drilling becoming a common phenomenon in many parts of the country and whilst there is nothing wrong with abstracting groundwater for domestic purposes, it is important for consumers to note that ZINWA is the responsible authority for that water.
Therefore, an abstraction permit obtainable from ZINWA is required before a borehole is drilled failure of which would amount to committing an offence in terms of the Water Act.
For more information please contact the Corporate Communications and Marketing Department on pr@zinwa.co.zw <mailto:pr@zinwa.co.zw> or visit www.zinwa.co.zw <http://www.zinwa.co.zw>. You can also like our Facebook Page.