There has been a massive public outcry over the recent Zimbabwe National Water Authority’s (Zinwa) ban on the drawing of bulk water from boreholes.

Thousands of residents have described the decision as illegal. They has aired their frustration and stated the decision was being implemented hastily without planning or taking into consideration the failure by Zinwa itself and local authorities to deliver water to the populace.

In a statement released by Zinwa it stated that all bulk water supplies were to register and pay for their operations at various designated points in areas. It also said drawing of water in bulk from boreholes in residential areas had been banned with effect from October 1.

Apparently Zinwa’s levy has not even been gazetted and nobody is sure of its legality as the decision was implemented in a matter of days without any foresight or planning on how the logistics and financing of this might work.

Environment, Water and Climate Change Ministry permanent secretary, Prince Mupazviriho wrote to several Zinwa catchment areas on September 23 2014 instructing them to take over the management of boreholes on behalf of government with immediate effect.

“This decision has been necessitated by the need to protect our finite groundwater resources which are at risk of being mined by the commercial water operators,” reads his instruction.

“You are further advised to take all necessary steps to monitor water levels and water quality and ensure that groundwater resources are not depleted. This move is a joint operation with Zinwa.”

He instructed that an amount of US$3 be charged per 1 000 litres of water abstracted.

“The ministry, sub-catchment councils and Zinwa are to take one dollar each from the above charge,” Mupazviriho wrote.

Naturally residents, especially those with boreholes or relying on buying bulk water, have described the move as “blatantly illegal”.