Water Crisis Affecting Lockdown Directive Lonias Majoni- Harare Correspondent The water crisis in Harare and Bulawayo has exposed the two major cities’ Councils as the most-flat footed, at a time when all stakeholders are alertly hands on deck in response to corona virus (covid19).  In compliance with the President’s lockdown directive which is aimed at curbing the spread of the virus through the concept of social distancing, communities across Zimbabwe have stopped from engaging in activities like unnecessary traveling, gathering and work.  However, water shortages in Bulawayo, Chitungwiza and Harare have left people exposed to the risk of the virus. From the early hours of the day up to the time of the publication of this story, reports from the three cities reflect that masses across all age groups have been continuously thronging to the boreholes and other alternative water sources scrounging for the precious liquid.  A woman who was waiting for her turn to fetch water at a borehole in Highfields along Mangwende Drive complained bitterly saying, “Covid19 is a global tragedy, no one invited it to Zimbabwe so as citizens, we fully welcome the President Mnangagwa’s Lock-Down Directive as it is the best way we can minimize the spread of the virus. However, the City Council is letting us down because we cannot survive indoors without water, honestly the council should act urgently”.  “Honestly when we thought our Government had taken a noble giant step to fight the virus, then the City Council pulls such a stunt?  One would wonder if this is not a deliberate sabotaging attempt against the Government and the people of Bulawayo. The City fathers should really come clean and act on this matter,” fumed Mai Choto, another resident in Glen Norah who was carrying 2x25L buckets of water  In the same vein, the recent water crisis has left the Nation vulnerable to diseases like cholera and typhoid.  An elderly woman who was carrying her granddaughter on her back in Chitungwiza’s Zengeza 2 area complained saying “The Government has played a huge part through initiating the lockdown phase as it will go a long way in curbing the spread of the virus. However, our councillors did not care to listen when we continuously warned them that our homes need running water than boreholes. Now we are all at risk as we are gathering at the borehole for water. Zvinoitawo here?  The City Councils should complement the Government to save lives of millions of Zimbabweans and avoid playing petty political games” she said.  The Harare and Chitungwiza city councils have been at the centre of controversy regarding to mismanagement of millions of rate-payers’ money through sponsoring extravagant workshops with disproportionate allowances while the residents do not have running water at their homes.