Mbengwi; Dry Taps in Rainy Season

Mbengwi; Dry Taps in Rainy Season

Early in the mornings and late in the evenings, children and youths are regularly seen in their numbers with empty buckets, jugs and other  containers criss crossing one part of the municipality to another in search of the precious liquid, water. For over a month now, many households in Mbengwi especially in the Mile 18, Mile 19, Wumfi, Muswe neighbourhoods and even G.R.A, hosting the top notches of the sub division have gone without water.

Youths from Fetching Water

Koye Glory is a single mother in Mbengwi. Almost in tears, she decried the precarious situation saying they've really been suffering for over a month now. She says they've now turned to wells in the quarters whose water they use in washing dresses and cooking especially as water from the well is very clean. However for fear of the unknown, the thirsty population doesn't drink from the wells. Since few taps are still flowing in the quarters, they go and beg to carry drinkable pipe borne water from neighbours.

Koye Glory, Fetching Water from a Well

Fon Elvis is a restaurateur in Mbengwi. On how the water crisis is affecting his business, he said, "I spend a thousand francs a day on bike to go and fetch portable water from Ku village, Bome, covering a distance of close to two kilometres. When I contacted some of the water authorities, they said we should give them money for repairs but couldn't be specific on the amount." He added that there's a well near him from where they also fetch water and distil with salt and other chemicals before usage. But that to his greatest dismay, despite the dry taps, the issuance of water bills continues.

Having heard from the suffering consumers, I went noosing for reactions from the office of the water utility company, Camwater to get their own side of the story. Speaking off record and on basis of anonymity, the official there that attended to me confirmed that their office is very much aware of the situation on the ground and know all the affected areas. But to him, the problem is the current Anglophone crisis that's been greatly affecting every sector of the economy negatively, water inclusive. He went ahead to say from their office to the water source up the hills of Guneku village and the treatment centre in Wumngang is a distance of several kilometres. Considering that these areas are remote and alleged to be hideouts of separatist fighters, they in the office can't dare risk their lives to go there. They regret the situation but put the blame on insecurity.

Dry Taps in Rainy Season

Should the current crisis persist, will the population continue to  have dry throats? Luckily, no outbreak of any water borne disease has been reported and more so, the rains are still falling but with the approach of the dry season, a bad situation is feared to get worse.