SOUTH African border officials at Beitbridge have requested water supplies from the Beitbridge Municipality after their pumps were washed away by the swollen Limpopo River thrice.
Beitbridge town clerk, Loud Ramakgapola, told stakeholders gathered for a water crisis meeting that his local authority will consider alternative revenue streams as it is owed about US$80 million.
“Two officials from the South African border were in my office this week [last week] requesting that we restart supplying them with water. There is an existing pipeline we can bring back to life to supply. We badly need the revenue,” he said.
A few years back, Beitbridge supplied water to the SA border, a lucrative venture stopped when that border post became self-reliant.
“But they lost three pumps washed away by the Limpopo (river) and their situation is desperate and we are can bail them out as well as make some revenue for us,” Ramakgapola said.
The meeting held on Thursday last week sought ways to convince residents to settle bills amounting around 43% of the US$80 million owed.
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Residents faced with erratic supplies for at least three days per week are resistant opting to purchase water from water vendors on a green patch as the shortage persists.
A 20-litre container of water sells for R2 while R100 buys a household 1 000 litres of what has become gold in Beitbridge.
Several issues, among them absentee landlords who collect water charges but fail to remit to council were highlighted in the meeting.
Some water vendors were accused of stealing municipal water just before their meter and loading for resale, a practice common in Baobab low-density suburb.
“We know people who are doing this and its common in Baobab. People are making money from stealing municipal water,” a resident contributed.
Businessman Terry Charles Mulowa advised the local authority to incentivise people to pay rates and water bills.
“You should consider rotation of supplies considering some residents do not get supplies even when the municipality dispenses. Some areas do not get the water at all,” he said. He advised council to install valves to ensure fair distribution.
Ramakgapola said his office had started disconnecting supplies, adding that he was investigating situations where those dispatched to disconnect received bribes.
“Ordinarily, I would now be getting calls from people pleading. But I have not had any call since meaning something is wrong. There is talk some of our staff is getting bribes not to close water and we have taken measures,” Ramakgapola said.
He said Beitbridge had a lot of problems with institutional houses where civil servants were transferred before settling bills and it had been resolved to install prepaid water meters on government houses.
Beitbridge council is entangled in an unending water war with the Zimbabwe National Water Authority which has for the first time in history imposed a bulk prepaid water meter for the local authority.