Gwanda to face weeks without water after floods destroyed pump station

By Jonah B Moyo

GWANDA — Residents of Gwanda are expected to endure weeks without running water after severe flooding along the Mtshabezi River destroyed the municipality’s main water pump station, crippling supply to the town.

The flooding, described as the worst in a decade, submerged the Municipality of Gwanda’s pump house earlier this week, causing extensive damage to critical infrastructure and forcing a complete shutdown of the water treatment system.

Gwanda District Disaster Risk Reduction focal person Awakhiwe Moyo said an assessment by the Civil Protection Unit and municipal engineers confirmed that the pump station had been severely damaged.

“The water pumping house was completely submerged. The motor engines were not visible as they were underwater, and the force of the current made it impossible to access the site,” he said.

Although water levels later receded, engineers found widespread destruction.

“The surge in river levels resulted in the submergence of the pump house. There was electromechanical failure due to silt and debris entering the pump casings and motor windings. All electronic control systems were lost, and the intake manifold was damaged by heavy debris. The access road has also been eroded, making it difficult for heavy repair machinery to reach the site,” Moyo added.

He noted that the extent of the damage may require the relocation of the pump house.

In a public notice issued on March 23, the Municipality of Gwanda confirmed that the flooding had significantly affected the town’s water treatment plant, necessitating a full shutdown.

Gwanda Town Clerk Priscillah Nkala said the disruption was unavoidable.

“The interruption has been necessitated by recent flooding, which severely affected our water treatment plant. Some electro-mechanical components have been damaged, requiring a complete shutdown of operations,” she said.

The municipality has urged residents to use stored water sparingly and turn to alternative sources such as community boreholes.

Nkala also warned residents to treat water from alternative sources before use.

“Residents must ensure that any water collected from alternative sources is boiled or treated before domestic use as a standard precaution,” she said.

Authorities have apologised for the disruption and said efforts are underway to restore supplies as soon as possible.

“We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused and are committed to restoring normal service in the shortest possible time. Further updates will be provided as work progresses,” Nkala said.

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