By Nobleman Runyanga

Government is set to hand over the treatment and distribution of water to local authorities as it commences the operationalisation of the devolution policy.

This was revealed by the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement, Retired Air Chief Marshal, Perence Shiri in a statement which he issued this week.

The Minister indicated that following the requests made by Beitbridge, Gwanda, Karoi and Victoria Falls local authorities to superintend over the treatment and distribution of water in their respective towns, Government had agreed to their requests and that the handover to the towns would mark the devolution of the function to local authorities nationwide.

“Central Government, as represented by the Ministry responsible for Water Resources through Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA), has a policy to handover (without abdication) water supply and sanitation services to local authorities when it is satisfied that the requesting local authority has the capacity to run and maintain the water and sanitation services,” said the Minister.

Minister Shiri was, however, quick to the stress that the devolution of the function remained a delegated arrangement which could be reversed.

“It should, however, be noted that that this will be a delegated function and Central Government, as represented by the Ministry responsible for water through ZINWA, as the Government Agent responsible for water, retains its responsibility as provider of last resort. In the event that the requesting Local Authority fails to diligently operate and maintain the services, Central Government will rescind the takeover agreement and direct ZINWA (on behalf of the Ministry responsible for water) to operate and maintain the water and sanitation services,” he said.

The Minister highlighted that two meetings between ZINWA and two local authorities had so far been held in pursuit of the devolution process.