Workers and Patients at Chapoto Clinic in Mbire were on 27 February this year left without water after a mentally challenged man destroyed water taps and an inverter used to supply clean water at the clinic.

By Chipo Chabarwa

William Kadziyanike (46), a mentally challenged man ran amok vandalizing four water taps and an inverter used to supply water to the clinic. As workers, patients and passers by watched in shock Kadziyanike used his bare hands to disfigure the water taps and proceeded to disconnect an inverter that was connected to a solar panel .

The destroyed equipment was donated by an unnamed well-wisher in 2019.

Without giving further details on how the vandalism took place, a worker at the clinic who preferred anonymity said the incident has left the clinic and surrounding communities without a source of clean water

“We now have no source of clean water following the destruction of the taps and the inverter, she said, adding that Kadziyanike receives medication for his mental condition from the clinic on a monthly basis.

Christmas Kachasu, Councillor for Mbire Ward 1 in which Kadziyanike is resident confirmed the vandalism incident. He said measures are being put in place to restore water supply to the clinic.

“We are also working on ensuring that such incidents of vandalism do not recur,” he said, adding: “this is not the first time for Kadziyanike to engage in vandalism at the clinic”.

Additional Reporting by Bindura Kachasu