Mugabe admits Zimbabweans drinking sewage-contaminated water

President Robert Mugabe on Friday admitted that Zimbabweans were drinking water contaminated with raw sewage.

Officially opening the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) — an annual business showcase—in Bulawayo, Mugabe expressed dismay at the quality of water being consumed by residents and regretted widespread poor service delivery.

“Are we drinking clean water? With all that sewage running into our water system? Doctors have told us that the water is dirty,” said Mugabe.

He revealed that government had set up an emergency cabinet committee to “look at the problem of water and sewage immediately”, in addition to other issues relating to service delivery.

Mugabe complained about the state of Zimbabwean roads, which he said were killing many people, particularly during national holidays.

He urged local and foreign investors to consider joint partnerships in the country.

“We are calling for investment. I invite local and foreign investors to come on board but we expect a fair return from the investors,” he added.

Mugabe said there were misconceptions around the indigenisation policy that compels foreign companies to cede 51 percent of their shares to locals, saying the regulation was not meant to nationalise or expropriate the firms.

“We have not nationalised a single company since independence (in 1980),” said Mugabe, adding that the empowerment programme was meant to address past economic inequalities.

The economy is currently faced with numerous problems, among them poor revenue generation amidst increasing company closures.

Local and foreign investors have complained that the indigenisation policy scares away those wishing to do business in Zimbabwe. The Zimbabwean