malvernmugadzikwa
Nokuthula Dube
HARARE CITY COUNCIL (HCC) is set to engage Chitungwiza Municipality this week to map a way forward on the water situation in the dormitory town following the decommissioning of Prince Edward Water Treatment Plant in August.
The municipalities are also expected to approach the Government, through the Ministry Local Government and Public Works. Harare Mayor Councillor Jacob Mafume said Chitungwiza is not up to date with its payments for water treatment chemicals, leaving HCC to foot the bill.
“We are going to call for a meeting on Tuesday with the Chitungwiza Town Council and then we will proceed to engage the Government on the issues that we will have discussed,” Mayor Mafume told The Sunday Mail.
“But we are working towards coming up with a mutually beneficial solution with the residents of Chitungwiza around water issues together with Government.”
Businesses operating in Chitungwiza are now at risk of closing after the drastic reduction of water supplies from HCC, especially following the decommissioning of Prince Edward Water Treatment Plant.
The development was caused by the drying up Harava and Seke dams that supply the plant. Chitungwiza Business Community Trust chairperson Mr Tendai Mareya said businesses in Chitungwiza are resorting to purchasing bulk water.
Chitungwiza Municipality recently announced that it was facing a serious water crisis.
“Way before the announcement, we were already having water challenges and the situation has now worsened. We are now buying water from individuals and fetching water from unprotected sources so that our businesses continue running,” said Mr Mareya.
The municipality, he added, was, however, still charging for water despite businesses running for days on end without the precious resource.
“The municipality is doing us a disservice by continuing to put fixed water charges, yet there has been no water supply even before the recent announcement about the decommissioning of the Prince Edward Water Treatment Plant.
“Generally, businesses are charged US$34 per month, yet they do not have running water . . . ”
He emphasised the need for the municipality to plan a way forward together with the business community.
Mayor Mafume reassured businesses operating in the satellite town that the water problem is being handled with urgency.
“No business will close because we are failing to give water. We are going to make sure that the water is available . . . right into the rainy season,” he said.
He outlined some of the challenges they are facing in supplying adequate water.
“As you know, towards the dry season, water that goes to Chitungwiza predominantly comes from the Prince Edward Waterworks.
“So, we have decommissioned Harava Dam that feeds the Prince Edward Waterworks, where we produce between 80 megalitres to 100 megalitres per day. Our only sources of water are now Lake Manyame and Lake Chivero. Lake Chivero is 96 percent full, Lake Manyame is 87 percent full, but that has created challenges towards the conveyance of water to Chitungwiza,” added Mayor Mafume.
While Chitungwiza Municipality has not been paying its bills for water treatment chemicals, the municipality has also been facing its own challenges of residents that are not paying for services.
Last week, Chitungwiza Municipality carried out a door-to-door debt collection programme. Harare City Council has also since proposed to assist the satellite town with debt collection.
“They are having challenges in collecting water charges from their rates and not paying us,” said the Mayor.
“That is putting pressure on the citizens of Harare to foot the chemical bill on their own and many other challenges that are there towards the conveyance of water.”
Online Reporter