Woman arrested for sharing false allegations of sewage water distribution
A Harare woman, identified as Sandra Mazviita Pamberi, has been arrested and charged with publishing falsehoods after recording a video making false allegations against Adela Constructing, a company she claimed was fetching water from a sewage-infested river and supplying it to residents. The viral video caught the attention of social media users and prompted an investigation.
Pamberi’s arrest took place at Highlands Police Station under case number RRB 5756799. She has been charged with contravening section 164(C) and section 95 of the Criminal Code, which pertain to the publication of false information.
In response to the allegations, Adela Constructing issued a statement to clarify the situation. The company stated that it is a reputable plant-hire business and does not engage in water distribution for profit. They emphasized that they have never been involved in such activities.
Adela Contracting explained that they were contracted by Runt Dutoit Property Developers for a road construction project in the Kambanji area of Greystone Park. The video was taken near a freshwater stream that crosses Outspan Drive. The company’s task was to divert the stream and drain any excess rainwater that could disrupt the roadworks.
The water bowser seen in the video was used to drain rainwater from a pool, which was then used for road compaction. Adela Contracting stressed that the water being drained was not sewage water. They further clarified that the area in question does not have any sewer lines, making it impossible for sewage water to be present in the vicinity. Importantly, the water captured in the video was not distributed to residents or anyone outside the immediate area.
“Adela Contracting is a reputable plant-hire company in Zimbabwe. Our core business is the supply and hire of plant equipment. We do not distribute water for purposes of profit to private individuals or corporates and our company has never ventured in such business.
“Adela Contracting was contracted by Runt Dutoit Property Developers, to supply plant and equipment for the purposes of road construction in the Kambanji area, Greystone Park, between Gaydon Drive and Maranzi. In the area in which the video was taken runs a stream of freshwater that crosses Outspan Drive.
“The mandate of the private company was the diversion of the stream and drainage of any surplus water that would interfere with the roadworks. Due to the heavy rains that have been experienced over the past few weeks, a pool of rainwater had accumulated by a stream which pool needed to be diverted.”
“We would like to emphasize that this water is NOT sewage water,” Adela Contracting said.
“Furthermore, the area itself does NOT have any sewer lines such that sewage water can be found in the locality.
“For emphasis, the water collected in the video was NOT distributed to residents or any person whatsoever outside the locality,” the company said.
