A WATER crisis has hit Ngwalongwalo Primary School in Pumula South, Bulawayo, following a pump failure, resulting in the learning institution going for three days without the precious liquid.
The crisis has forced the learners to resort to open defecation in the nearby bushes, posing a health hazard to both residents and the environment.
A meeting was held on Wednesday to find a solution to the water problem.
“The children are in danger, the youngsters are messing themselves up and asked to leave the classes as they will be dirty. The school head suggested that, as parents, we should have solutions towards this crisis as we are in it together for the few days ahead,” said one of the parents after the meeting.
Contacted for comment, the school head, Keyi Moyo said they will rectify the problem as soon as possible.
“The school pump collapsed on Monday. However, the two 1 000 litre tanks were full, we started experiencing challenges on Tuesday when the flow of water started dwindling. However, all that has been sorted and tanks are filling up, by end of day, all will be okay,” Moyo said.
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Primary and Secondary Education ministry spokesperson Taungana Ndoro was not reachable for comment.
Meanwhile, a few months into this year, Pumula North suburb was hit by a diarrhoea outbreak scare as residents complained of stomach pains and other symptoms related to the water-borne disease.