By A Correspondent-Beitbridge has been hit by a water crisis following the announcement by the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) that they have temporarily introduced water rationing in border town.

Zinwa said this has been caused by a major electrical fault that occurred on an electricity transformer that powers its water treatment plant in the border town.

In a statement Wednesday, Zinwa said when the fault occurred on Tuesday most of the water reservoirs in the town were 50 percent full.

“We wish to advise stakeholders that the electricity transformer in the Beitbridge Water Treatment plant is down and consequently no water production is taking place,” said Zinwa.

“Reservoirs were at 50 percent of their full capacity when the transformer broke down. Reluctantly, Zinwa is rationing water to Beitbridge Municipality.

”The water authority said it had already engaged the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) to urgently rectify the problem.

The town requires an estimated 18 megalitres of water daily, but authorities have been failing to meet the demand due to a lack of storage facilities.