In Ward 9’s Mkoba Village 1, members of Gweru Residents and Ratepayers Association (GRRA) have taken a proactive stance to address the community’s longstanding water crisis.
For years, the village’s sole functional borehole served over 10,000 residents, leading to severe water shortages. Desperate for water, many were compelled to fetch it from the Mkoba 1 police station, resulting in the arrest of five women who were merely attempting to perform household chores.
Determined to find a sustainable solution, GRRA members formed a fundraising and advocacy group to tackle the issue head-on. They engaged in discussions about the dire water situation, emphasizing its impact on the survival and health of residents.
During a lobby meeting, they informed Ward 10 Councilor Charles Chikozho about the unsafe drinking water and its consequences. However, Councilor Chikozho cited financial constraints faced by the local authority and did not take action to assist the residents.
Undeterred, GRRA members escalated their advocacy efforts by directly lobbying the Gweru City Council.
They submitted a demand letter and held meetings with the Mayor of Gweru, Councillor Josiah Makombe.
“We kept on following with our demand and issues during meetings with the Mayor continuously,” said Shamiso Masanha, highlighting their persistent efforts.
Their relentless coordination and follow-ups bore fruit when the local authority allocated land and installed a water tap in the village.
The arrival of clean drinking water has brought immense relief to the community, particularly to the women who previously spent hours fetching water from distant sources. Now, they have direct access to safe water, allowing them to dedicate more time to income-generating activities and other pursuits.
Moreover, the risk of communicable diseases has significantly decreased.
“Due to regular follow-ups and coordination, we have been successful. It has eased our workload and made our life simple. We would like to thank everyone involved in this process,” expressed Agnes Chirmuti, a member of the ward.
This achievement underscores the power of community-driven initiatives and persistent advocacy in addressing critical public health challenges.
Source: NGO Africa Watch
