Govt’s plan to restore ZINWA
http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk/
The government has rolled out its five year plan to restore the Zimbabwe
National Water Authority to its ‘original intended level’, a policy document
shows.
08.05.13
by Farai Mabeza
In the National Water Policy, the Ministry of Water Resources Development
and Management said that within five years ZINWA would focus on its core
functions of planning, developing and managing the country’s water resources
in accordance with the provisions of the Water Act of 1998.
The government said it wanted to revitalise agriculture and needed an agency
to manage the country’s water resources.
“It is vital that the primary function of ZINWA be urgently restored,” the
policy document says. “At the end of the five year recovery period, ZINWA’s
functions will be clearly split into two.” ZINWA has been heavily criticised
for its inefficiency. According to the document, the treated water supply
function will be addressed through the creation of a National Water Supply
and Sanitation Services Utility.
“This will be in line with the original thinking at the time ZINWA was
formed,” the document explains. However, the government said that in order
to avoid disruptions during the recovery period, ZINWA would continue to
provide portable water services to government institutions and local
authorities.
The Minister of Water Resources and Management Samuel Sipepa Nkomo revealed
to the media in February that ZINWA was in the process of handing back water
and sewer infrastructure to municipalities such as Gwanda, Beitbridge and
Plumtree.
He said in order for a municipality to qualify for a handover of the water
and sewer reticulation, it should have a proper billing system and have an
ability to demonstrate revenue collection.
During its management of Harare water, ZINWA was accused of failing to
properly manage water supplies and sewer reticulation. In terms of the Water
Act, the authority is obliged to assist the government with matters
pertaining to the development, exploitation, protection and conservation of
water resources.
ZINWA’s operations are always under the spotlight because of the
organisation’s importance to Zimbabwe’s agro-based economy.