Beitbridge Bureau — Serious water shortages have hit the border town Beitbridge following the flooding of the water treatment pump due to the torrential rains experienced in the district this week. The water treatment station, which is located a few metres from the Limpopo River was submerged on Monday morning and by end of day yesterday, engineers from the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) were still trying to drain the water from the pump.

The floods also left the back-up generators submerged and affected the electrical system.

The town has been without water since Monday morning and the residents have to rely on the 33 boreholes dotted across the border town.

Town Secretary Dr Sipho Singo told the Beitbridge Civil Protection Unit yesterday that the taps would remain dry for the next seven days while they try to drain water from the flooded pump station.

The town needs at least 15 000 cubic metres of water per day though the local authority has been able to supply a third of the daily requirement.