Swazi Observer

FULL STORY

MBABANE HIT BY WATER CRISIS

By KHETSIWE KHUMALO | 2021-04-13

Mbabane - FRUSTRATION is mounting for residents and businesses in and around Mbabane after two pipes are reported to have burst leaving thousands of people without water.

According to the Eswatini Water Services Corporation (EWSC) Public Affairs and Customer Service Manager Nomahlubi Matiwane, the crisis started during the weekend when two consecutive pipes bursts on a 600mm AC pipe that supplies Checkers, causing a leakage.

The affected areas, according to Matiwane included Mbabane CBD, Mncitsini, Mountain Inn, Msunduza, Extention 3, Mobeni Kuyehlela, Gobholo, Bahai and other surrounding areas. Due to the depletion of the water at the reservoir, areas such as Mahwalala, Nkwalini and Lomkiri have been affected as well.

However, Matiwane revealed that there were some areas where the issue had been resolved, mentioning the inter-ministerial building as one of them.

“Businesses in the CBD, including those under Swazi Plaza, Nandos and the Hilton Garden Inn have buffer storages which will be filled up,” stated Matiwane. However, other businesses were affected, including the Lilunga House where the Eswatini Observer is situated.

The building remained without water for the better part of yesterday. Matiwane described the water supply interruptions as an unfortunate incidents that periodically occur in any water supply network due to a number of reasons often associated with random infrastructure failure.

inconvenience

She said EWSC has a customer services charter which stipulates communication protocols, remedial action and turnaround times for repair work in order to minimise customer inconvenience as much as possible when such incidents occur.

“As guided by the customer service charter, alternative water supply through stationary tanks and a mobile tanker is being provided in the affected areas,” said Matiwane.

She added that the team on the ground was working tirelessly on the issue to be resolved in all areas affected by end of business today. Asked to quantify the damage in terms of finances, Matiwane said they were not yet in a position to determine the extent of the cost.

She said they would be in a position once they have assessed everything including the damaged pipes.

Meanwhile, throngs of people in local townships, including Msunduza were queuing for water from water tankers on Sunday and yesterday evening, particularly after people had knocked off from work. Some of the members of the public interviewed by this publication said this was an inconvenience and that the scene reminded them of the water rationing which was conducted by the company when Eswatini was affected by El Nino.

They said they hoped the EWSC would restore the normal service by the end of business today as they have reported.

“It’s been a tough few days for some of us here at Msunduza as we are forced to queue for water with containers,” said one of them.

Another resident said the situation was hugely inconveniencing as they have to share water in small buckets with the whole family.

Water tanks have been deployed in the following places:

1. MAHWALALA - Hilltop Complex - Mahwalala next to Reservoir - Mahwalala Stores/ ground - Next to Mahwalala Primary - Next to Chinese Church 2.MANGWANENI - Next to Highway - Kombi turn station

3. MSUNDUZA - Msunduza Market - Msunduza playground - Mqolo playground - Mobeni Kuyehlela *2

share story