Published by the government of Zimbabwe
1 December 2008
Harare — On Sunday, Harare and Chitungwiza went dry; water stopped coming out of the taps in almost all suburbs and the city centre.
There was no warning, no announcement and no explanation: just dry taps, except in two or three areas where the reservoirs still have a little water left.
And all of this was in a pair of urban areas where cholera exists and where it could spread fast if the serious and effective steps already taken, among them adequate clean water for the most-at-risk communities, are allowed to lapse.
Those who should have been managing the crisis, and much of that management would be involving the public, were out of contact and determined to stay that way.
But it gradually emerged that treatment had ceased when the big Morton Jaffray Waterworks ran out of one of the four chemicals used to treat water, aluminium sulphate.
This chemical clarifies water, removing all the gunk, before the acidity is corrected with lime, the water purified with charcoal and any remaining bacteria killed with chlorine.
There had been warnings about chemicals running short and the Government stepped in and the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe had paid for large imports of the necessary chemicals.
Deliveries appear to have been delayed, but no one with authority at Zinwa appeared perturbed, let alone seriously worried.
Yet it would have been so easy late last week to have made emergency arrangements.
Air Zimbabwe flies twice a day to Johannesburg; how difficult would it have been to load a day's worth of chemicals in the cargo holds of returning flights?
For that matter, the Air Force of Zimbabwe has cargo planes, and we feel sure senior officers would have authorised an emergency flight.
But even a lorry takes less than 24 hours to drive to Harare from Johannesburg.
Border post delays could have been sorted out and eliminated.
The South Africans were bound to co-operate on their side, if asked, although the exporter country usually has the least paperwork.
The Zimbabwean customs could have been given some direct orders to let the trucks jump the queue and be cleared very swiftly.
The top management of Zinwa failed to track their shipments, failed to warn others of delays, failed to seek the assistance they surely could have had for the asking, and failed to inform the public.
Their failure, which they could have avoided so easily, is there for all to see.
No water on Sunday in Zimbabwe's capital city, no water on Monday and no word of when water will be available.
Zinwa must now realise that they are running urban water supplies.
This means that someone must be available to receive information, analyse facts, and make decisions 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
It cannot be left to chance, nor can failures be blamed on others.
Managers are there to manage, not leave work on Friday and hope that all plans will work out or that they can pass the blame onto others since it was "not my fault".
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Rights of shelter, clean water, bla, bla, bla. Who said these COMMODITIES are "rights"?
Under capitalism, or versions of the same, these objects you call "rights" are commodified objects, period. And, Zimbabwe is a capitalist economy.
Only a delusional neo-con would fail to comprehend why these commodities are scarce; yet, Africans, in general fear the West---why, I know not and care not.
I NOW SAY THE WEST IS KILLING ZIMBABWEANS BY AND THROUGH THE PROCEDURALLY FLAWED SANCTIONS imposed on Zimbabwe under the watch of an 'African', namely KOFI ANNAN, the Ghanain, if a Ghanain he still is.
Accordingly, no one should be surprised by the depth and expanse of human suffering in Zimbabwe.
When has the West cared about the welfare of Africans? I'll tell you when: it, through its royal, and government backed slave dealers, took care of slave cargoes, human commodities, African commodified bodies.
Cheers.
In the capatalist country of England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Sweeden, Danemark etc it is the human right of any individual to have residence, water, electricity, safety, due process, etc. You being a clever chap should know this. In the Zimbabwe constitution there are these rights. In fact it is a human right of mankind. If you do not want to be part of the human race so be it. I do comprehend why they are scarce,it is because of the inept corrupt dictator that rules the country. That is precisely why he will never reliquish power, he is afraid! Not to worry his come uppance will be soon
Sanctions?! Do you mean travel sanctions imposed on the ZANU PF ministers? Or do you mean the arms embargo? Or the ones on those 4 companies, one of which I believe makes army uniforms?
Which santions do you mean? And which do you want removed?
AWT did you ever find out how to get the full feed of comments on the forum. I still can get 9 or 10 per subject. Please advise.
Good question, I'm having the same problem myself, so no idea. If you reply to a thread at the top it seems to delete the threads at the bottom, and just show the top 10 or so, and if you reply at the bottom you dont get to see it. I tried contacting allafrica about it, but there email server was down. Will try again. Any ideas yourself? Is everyone else having this problem?
AWT - Glad to hear that I am not the only one. I have sent a couple of e-mails to allAfrica.com about the problem but have had absolutely no response.
It also doesnt always show the Newspaper that published the article, or how many posts are on each thread... have you noticed this also?
See all comments (20).
Greatly surprised that the Herald printed this. Heads will roll. It shows how inept the government really is, how badly they have messed up the basic humna rights of the people of Zimbabwe. The right of shelter, clean water, health, education, the list goes on.