DUNGWIZA NEWS
Chitown water woes to end: Prophet Magaya
“My people-centred investments have also been welcomed in neighbouring countries and beyond.”
By ALBERT MASAKA/TSITSI MASHIRI
WISTMER Investments chairman Prophet Walter Magaya has allayed fears expressed by some residents’ leaders that he was out to swindle residents by promising to end the perennial water woes that bedevil Chitungwiza, and improve service delivery in other key sectors of the ailing municipality.
This follows reports that the government has engaged Wistmer in a bid to improve service delivery in Chitungwiza.
Magaya scoffed at allegations by some disgruntled residents that he was taking over the control of Chitungwiza.
“I want to assure Chitungwiza residents that we are going to provide a reliable supply of potable water, their challenges will be a thing of the past.
“I am passionate about developing my hometown Chitungwiza, I have invested in Harare and other parts of the country.
“My people-centred investments have also been welcomed in neighbouring countries and beyond.”
Local Government minister Daniel Garwe last week announced that Wistmer was going to take charge of the town’s water provision, sewer reticulation, garbage collection, management and regularisation of settlements, businesses and markets.
Government is reported to be concerned with the way Chitungwiza council is managing its affairs and has intervened to increase its water supply capacity, amid current water woes dogging the town.
Wistmer has drilled and rehabilitated nearly 20 boreholes in the Manyame Rural District Council area that are also expected to supply Chitungwiza.
Meanwhile, residents interviewed by Dungwiza News have expressed hope that Magaya will deliver.
“I work up at 5 every day to fetch water before going to school,” said a 13-year-old girl from Ward 8.
“My stepmother said if I don’t do that, I won’t eat anything. So, I really thank Magaya for this. I’ll be able to focus on my studies more, and borehole marshalls won’t be able to take advantage of girls by abusing us in exchange for water,” said a 13-year-old girl (name supplied) from Ward 8.
Ekina Sangare, a senior citizen from Ward 1, a resident of Chitungwiza for over 25 years expressed her disappointment with the municipality’s failure to provide basic services.
“But I’m happy that Prophet Magaya will resolve this issue. Most women in Chitungwiza suffer every day, fetching water and buying it for $1 per 4 buckets. It’s a heavy burden.”
Award-winning disability journalist Nyasha Nhau welcomed the intervention by the government.
“This is good news to my ears, such interventions make it easier for the disability sector to access water. All these years, the disability constituency has been neglected, suffering to access water. The residents should embrace Magaya because he has a spirit of service and is giving back to the community that groomed him.”