malvernmugadzikwa
Nyore Madzianike
HARARE residents are getting less than half the potable water they require from the city council.
In his State of the City address last week, the mayor, Councillor Jacob Mafume, indicated that these challenges were crippling service delivery in the capital.
City of Harare is presently producing about 300 megalitres of potable water against a daily requirement of 800 megalitres.
“Water supply remains one of the key pain points for the residents of Harare,” he said.
“Harare and its dormitory towns’ water demand is around 800 megalitres per day against an average current production of 300 megalitres per day owing to the various works that are being carried out at our water treatment plants.
“Water supply coverage is averaging 49,1 percent, and, in terms of quality, we are meeting the World Health Organisation standards.
“We will continue to take up measures to increase water production and reach our target of producing 520 megalitres per day by December 31, 2024.”
He expressed hope that the construction of Kunzvi Dam will ensure the water supply situation improves in Harare.
Cllr Mafume also said the city had been forced to abandon a proposed citywide clean-up operation as a result of a shortage of trailers for its new tractors.
The tractors, which were secured from Belarus through a Government-negotiated initiative, are now wasting away in storage in Southerton.
“Your city, through a Government-initiated arrangement with Belarus, managed to acquire a total of 52 tractors,” he said.
“Allow me to take this opportunity to express our sincere gratitude to the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Resettlement, Dr Anxious Masuka, for facilitating the acquisition of the 52 tractors.
“Now, our focus area for the rest of the year is summarised as follows: procurement of trailers for our tractors so that we improve on waste collection efficiency and coverage.
“Each region will be given its dedicated tractors and some compactors.”
Waste management, he said, remained a major challenge in the city.
He also urged residents to embrace the national clean-up campaign.
“Our collection efficiency is being hampered by the shortage of plant and equipment, as we are operating with an average of 15 compactors against an ideal 45 compactors.
“Working closely with Central Government and its agencies, riding on the Emergency Solid Waste Management Programme guided by Statutory Instrument 140 of 2023, we implemented Operation Chenesa Harare.
“The aim of the operation was to clear all illegal dumps.
“The joint operation managed to clear a total of 417 illegal dumps across the five regions and disposed of a cumulative tonnage of 22 048 tonnes of waste at the Pomona disposal site,” he said.
Council, he added, was planning to procure 15 refuse compactors and seven tippers to improve solid waste management.
“In addition to the recapitalisation drive, we will construct additional supporting infrastructure — that is, six material recovery centres and six transfer stations — to augment the collection of recyclables and improve refuse collection efficiency.”
Online Reporter