Tagarika Flats Water Crisis: Masimba Holdings Steps In After Mbare Residents Raise Alarm

By Talent Chimutambgi Senior Reporter, Southerton Business Times_

Residents of Tagarika Flats in Mbare are set to breathe a sigh of relief following swift intervention by Southerton Constituency shadow legislator Cde Andrew Makahamadze to address persistent water shortages in the area. The intervention comes after residents raised concern over worsening water challenges at the flats, where two existing boreholes have failed to adequately supply water to the growing population.

The situation was further worsened after the two boreholes, which residents previously relied on, were swallowed up by the newly constructed Mbare Musika Market, making it difficult for residents to access water as they once did when the area was still an open space. Masimba Holdings, the company behind the construction of the modern market facility, has now stepped in to help address the water challenges affecting residents.

The state-of-the-art market was constructed after a devastating conflagration engulfed the old Mbare Musika Market, leaving thousands of traders counting losses. Following the disaster, the Government moved in swiftly to facilitate the construction of a world-class market in line with the Second Republic’s infrastructure development agenda. However, the development inadvertently affected community access to the two boreholes that had been serving Tagarika Flats residents for years.

Cde Makahamadze moved quickly after receiving reports on the crisis and convened a high-level meeting with Masimba Holdings. The meeting resolved that engineers from the company would immediately move onto the ground this Tuesday to assess the situation and craft a lasting solution. Tagarika Flats fall under Southerton Constituency.

Speaking to journalists, Cde Makahamadze said access to clean and safe water remains a key priority under the Second Republic’s development agenda guided by the mantra of “Leaving No One and No Place Behind.”

“We have engaged Masimba Holdings and their engineers will be on the ground on Tuesday to assess the situation and come up with a strategic and sustainable solution to the water challenges affecting residents of Tagarika Flats,” he said.

He added that his rapid response was also aimed at preventing outbreaks of waterborne diseases such as cholera and typhoid, which often emerge in areas affected by poor sanitation and inadequate water supplies.

“Lack of water compromises hygiene and sanitation. As leaders, we must act swiftly to protect communities from diseases that thrive in such conditions. Prevention is always better than diverting national resources towards curing preventable outbreaks,” said Cde Makahamadze.

Engineers are expected to ensure that residents regain reliable access to clean water before the situation deteriorates into a public health crisis.

Residents welcomed the development and praised the legislator for what they described as responsive and people-centred leadership.

“He always comes to our rescue whenever challenges arise in the constituency. This intervention gives us hope that our water problems will soon be a thing of the past,” said one resident.

Cde Makahamadze has earned a reputation for being active on the ground and closely engaging communities across Southerton Constituency on service delivery issues.

The development also complements Government efforts under President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration to improve access to clean water through the Presidential Borehole Drilling Programme, which seeks to ensure communities across the country enjoy reliable water supplies.

Tagarika Flats water crisis