COWDRAY Park residents are fighting for control of boreholes that were drilled by Finance minister Mthuli Ncube ahead of the August 2023 elections as the city’s water crisis deepens.
Ncube spent big drilling boreholes, rehabilitating roads and installing free WiFi, among other many interventions as he campaigned for the constituency.
He, however, lost the seat to the Citizens Coalition for Change’s Pashor Sibanda.
Southern Eye heard that there is a fight for control of the boreholes as residents bear the brunt of a water crisis.
“We are not being allowed to get water freely by other residents who claim to be gatekeepers of the boreholes,” one of the residents said.
Residents said they were being asked to pay a US$1 per month to access the boreholes.
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“People are suffering, but other residents always lock the borehole claiming they are implementing control measures,” another resident said.
Residents said there should be free access to the boreholes as the Finance minister said after drilling them.
One of the so-called borehole gatekeepers, who refused to be named, defended the US$1 fee for drawing water from the boreholes.
“We are trying to make sure that the borehole lasts longer by controlling how people access it,” he said.
“When the minister handed the borehole to us, he said we should take care of it because no one is going to fix it for us when it stops working.”
Cowdray Park ward 28 councillor Ntandoyenkosi Ndlovu said no one should be denied access to a borehole.
“Conflicts at water points often stem from individuals who do not participate in the upkeep and safeguarding of these sources, only appearing when they need water. It is the responsibility of every community member to protect and maintain these critical resources,” Ndlovu said.
“Residents are encouraged to actively participate in water committees, which are essential in ensuring the safe-keeping and fair distribution of water throughout the community.”