By Bongiwe Dube
Gwanda residents and youth have demanded immediate accountability from municipal authorities over persistent water shortages, using knowledge and confidence gained through CYDT civic engagement initiatives to challenge service delivery failures. Following nearly a week of dry taps across the town, residents moved beyond expressing frustration to directly engaging council officials, questioning technical explanations and proposing practical solutions to the water crisis, through a local resident` WhatsApp platform.
Residents challenged the municipality’s claim that Gwanda requires 11ML of water per day by applying the council’s own consumption figures to the town’s population.
“According to the water consumption figures given by our Engineer last night, umuntu oyedwa consumes 150 litres per day, and if we are consuming 11ML per day that would mean Gwanda has a population of 75 000 to 80 000, which is not true and totally out of proportion.”
Residents proposed engaging ZimStat to verify the town’s population and to calculate actual daily water demand using official demographic figures before future planning decisions are made.
The community also questioned the reported 45% loss of treated water within the distribution network, arguing that infrastructure failures, rather than recurring explanations, were the root cause of the crisis.
“What we usually get as excuses for water problem were just simple sugar coats not the real issue… the loss let’s admit it’s too high we can’t sustain with 45% loss it’s unbearable.”
Residents called on council to prioritise reducing water losses and completing the 5ML reservoir. Even after municipal officials indicated that GIZ would support water loss reduction from 13 July 2026 and that reservoir levels were above 90%, residents continued demanding clarity.
“Is this authentic water level 90+% ngoba abantu bespitzkop bekhala ngamanzi after opening just 1hr. What is the matrix lapha 5ML for spitzkop for an hour get finished.”
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a local resident said the community now understands local governance processes and is better equipped to engage municipal authorities on issues affecting service delivery.
“We as residents raised alarm ngesikhathi kufakwa that tender on vehicles ukuthi let us prioritise service delivery.”
The resident explained that citizens can now engage council on infrastructure priorities and budget allocations instead of simply accepting decisions without question.
Building on this momentum, residents are preparing to actively participate in the upcoming municipal budget process to ensure public resources respond to community priorities.
“This time we want a real budget that is driven by residents and Technocrats in our Municipality.”
Residents further stressed that the upcoming budget consultations should not be conducted merely “as a formality, ukugcwalisa lokudlulisa umthetho nje [just to fulfil and pass the law],” demonstrating the growing demand for meaningful public participation in local governance.
This growing culture of active citizenship reflects the impact of CYDT’s sustained local governance interventions in Gwanda. Through community governance meetings, civic education, and capacity-building trainings, CYDT has empowered residents and young people to understand their roles and responsibilities in local governance while providing platforms for constructive engagement with duty bearers. As a result, communities are increasingly participating in decision-making processes, demanding accountability, and contributing to improved transparency and responsive service delivery.
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