Redcliff dismisses cholera reports

REDCLIFF mayor Councillor Fred Kapuya has dismissed reports that the satellite town has been hit by a cholera outbreak after being starved of water by Kwekwe City Council.

Redcliff gets its water supplies from Kwekwe, which has been rationing its water allocations, citing shortages of water treatment chemicals.

Of late, Kwekwe City Council has also been accusing Redcliff of failing to service its water bill, which is now reportedly running into millions of dollars.

Though there have been unconfirmed reports that the satellite town has been hit by cholera, Clr Kapuya indicated that this was “utterly false”.

He noted that the town remained on high alert for the disease.

“We heard those reports that there were cholera cases in Redcliff, DAIRY farmers in the Midlands province have lamented high cost of milk production, which they say has resulted in the country failing to compete in the region.

The major cost drivers are local stock feed prices and power tariffs. Zimbabwe Association of Dairy Farmers (ZADF) Midlands Chapter president, Mr Edward Warambwa, but they are utterly false,” said Clr Kapuya.

“We have no cases in the town and the local authority is on high alert following reports of the outbreak in neighbouring towns.”

Clr Kapuya conceded that there were acute water shortages in the satellite town.

He said due to serious financial challenges, the town was not servicing its water bill, a development that has seen Kwekwe rationing supplies to Redcliff. “We have not been servicing our bill to Kwekwe City due to financial constraints, but we have made a commitment,” said Clr Kapuya. “Kwekwe City has, as a result, introduced water rationing and each suburb in Redcliff receives water for certain hours after, say, a day or two.” Clr Kapuya said some Redcliff residents were now purchasing bulk water, while others were turning to water tanks. “It’s a difficult situation, but we are coping,” he said. “Some residents who can afford have erected some water tanks at their houses. “Those without water tanks just wait for the water from Kwekwe City before they fill their containers,” he said.