Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. THE Bindura Municipality has blamed upstream mining activities being undertaken by a Chinese company for exacerbating a water crisis that has left residents with minimal supply.
The local authority claims the mining operations are polluting water sources and causing blockages, compounding challenges caused by a severe drought.
In a notice to residents, council stated that water sources have “declined significantly,” leading to minimal flow at the abstraction point and repeated shutdown of the treatment plant.
“This situation has severely impacted water supply across the entire municipal area,” the notice read.
“The crisis is primarily driven by climate change-induced challenges and mining activities upstream of the water abstraction point and subsequent blockages, which are beyond our control.”
Bindura mayor Jacob Gwature told NewsDay that unregulated mining has severely compromised the town’s water quality.
“Generally, unregulated mining activities have compromised our water quality and quantity and we unfortunately end up incurring high water processing costs,” Gwature said.
He confirmed that the municipality has engaged the Environmental Management Agency and the police to address the issue.
The water shortage has been intensified by delays at the Masembura Water Project, which is seen as the long-term solution.
As a temporary measure, the Zimbabwe National Water Authority has begun releasing more raw water and the municipality is also relying on community boreholes — a system the mayor admits is insufficient against a daily demand of 18 megalitres.
“I thank our residents and ask for their continued patience and support as we navigate with speed this project’s final stages and permanently address Bindura’s water woes,” Gwature said.
Meanwhile, Bindura’s only source of water, the Masembura water plant, is currently closed for renovation.
The municipality told residents that all outstanding works on the Masembura Water Transmission Line are expected to be completed by the end of this month.
“This milestone will usher in a new era of improved water supply for the greater Bindura Municipality. The project is now 90% complete,” council said.
“The Masembura project is a public-private partnership between Bindura Municipality and Freda Rebecca Mine.
“The initiative is being implemented for US$3 million.”
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