WATER SHORTAGE STINGS MATSAPHA

MBABANE – People of Mobeni Flats in Matsapha are reliving what Mbabane folk experienced during the water rationing days.

Armed with plastic containers, the tenants form a long queue towards two water tanks which have been placed near the area to supply them with water. The tenants are among those who experienced water shortages after the storm which wreaked havoc in the area on Friday.

Swaziland Water Services Corporation (SWSC) services were cut just after the storm. Areas such as Logoba, Ndlunganye and Eteni did not have a drop of water from the taps and as a result, residents were forced to make means of securing water to sustain them until everything returned back to normal.

When the Times visited the flats, people were found queuing with the aim of getting water. The same was experienced in Mbabane during the El Nino season when water levels from the Hawane Dam dropped significantly, causing SWSC to effect water rationing.
When sought for comment on Sunday, SWSC Public Affairs Manager Nomahlubi Matiwane said the company had received a lot of reports on the shortage of water.

She said places like Manzini, Nhlambeni and Matsapha, where water to these other areas is sourced, were affected. Since electricity was also affected, it took a while before water could be pumped into the reservoirs.

However, she said the company was working around the clock to address the situation. “The storm affected water supply and reservoirs were drained empty. Filling them back up would take a while since it needs all taps to be closed so as to speed up the process,” she said.

Nonetheless, Matiwane said even though people continue to use water while pumping was ongoing, it was anticipated that overnight, more water would have been collected.

Meanwhile, the flats that had their rooftops blown off during the storm have not yet been fixed with the debris still scattered all over the place.

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