Luveve water crisis identified

Government has attributed Bulawayo’s diarrhoea outbreak in Luveve and surrounding suburbs that has killed nine people to water shedding and vandalism of pipes, and released an additional $7.4 million for the drilling of 10 boreholes in the city.

In April, government released $10.6 million to the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) towards the rehabilitation of 15 boreholes at the Nyamandlovu aquifer to increase Bulawayo’s water supply.

Briefing journalists on the 21st cabinet meeting decision matrix in Harare , Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said a total of 1 500 suspected gastrointestinal disease cases had been attended to by June 21 with nine deaths recorded.

The outbreak is attributed to the 144-hour water shedding regime and vandalism of outflow sewers and dilapidated pipes, some of which have outlived their lifespan.