By Terrence Mawawa|Residents of the City of Masvingo are drinking rusty water posing a serious health hazard in the process.
The situation has worsened at a time the Masvingo City Council blew $ 500 000 on posh vehicles for top management.
The local authority is at the same time battling to purchase the necessary chemicals for water treatment and purification-much to the chagrin of local residents. The city council spent a further $ 21,000 on motor vehicles accessories for management to enhance comfort.
The Masvingo Residents Trust (MRT) said in a statement released this week council must immediately resolve the matter to ensure residents get safe drinking water.
“The city council must ensure that residents get safe drinking water. Instead of buying themselves expensive vehicles they were supposed to channel such money towards water treatment and purification. We hope and trust the matter will be resolved urgently as we have now gone for several weeks drinking rusty and poorly treated water,” said MRT in a statement .
Masvingo United Residents and Ratepayers Association(MURRA) spokesperson Godfrey Mtimba said it was for the city council to prioritise luxury ahead of people’s health.
“There is a potential health risk as a result of drinking contaminated water therefore we urge the local authority to act on the matter as soon as possible,” said Mtimba .
Masvingo City Council town clerk Adolf Gusha was evasive on the matter but he told ZimEye.com the council embarked on strategic partnerships to immediately resolve the matter.
The city council is under fire for purchasing posh vehicles for the local authority’s bosses at a time residents are drinking contaminated water.