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Linda Mzapi
In line with Sustainable Developmental Goals (SDGs), Harare residents have been urged to preserve the city’s wetlands as a way of ensuring that every citizen is not denied their right to potable water.
This came up at a round-table meeting that was attended by Harare City Council, Combined Harare Residents and United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) at the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) in commemoration of World Water Day.
This year’s theme is ‘Better Water, Better Jobs’.
Water stands at the heart of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as highlighted in Goal 6 on ensuring the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation. It is important for the success of all the other objectives.
Access to safe drinking water and sanitation is a pre-requisite for poverty eradication, education, gender equality, the reduction of child mortality, improved maternal health, the combat against major water-borne diseases and achieving environmental sustainability.
Those who attended the meeting discouraged water pollution and highlighted that the dirtier the water, the more expensive it is to purify.
“People are tilting wetlands and placing agro-chemicals into the water sources,” said Harare City Council’s chief environmental technician, Mr Chad Mabika.
“Sources of water in Harare are Lake Chivero, Seke, Harava, Darwin Dam and several wetlands that include Monavale, Budiriro, National Sports Stadium and Cleveland.”
Mr Mabika said citizens should work together with the council to curb the shortage of water.
“If the water is not very dirty, it is easier to purify and will be cheap and accessible to everyone” he said.
Despite having several water bodies lying idle, Zimbabwe has been experiencing water shortages for several years now.
Yet the importance of water can never be over empasized as it is connected to our health, our well-being, our culture, our economy and our environment.
Water makes up more than two thirds of the human body weight, the human brain is made up of 95 percent water, blood is 82 percent water while lungs comprise of 90 percent water.
In a speech read on her behalf, Unesco’s director-general Irina Bokova, said there is an improvement in the access to clean and safe water.
“Between 1990 and 2010; 2,3 billion people gained access to improved drinking water sources. This is positive but not enough. More than 700 million people still do not have access to clean and safe water for a healthy life,” she said.
Mr Reuben Akilla, a representative from Combined Harare Residents Association, urged the Government and local authorities to prioritise water in their budgets.
He also said City Councils should not engage in arbitrary water disconnections.
“The city council should have a court order before disconnecting water because it is unlawful to do so without any court order,” he argued.
According to the 2016 World Water Development Report; 1,5 billion people work at water-related places. The report also says that 17 percent of deaths recorded during the period that was under study could be linked to unsafe drinking water.
Part of the report reads: “Nearly 80 percent of the jobs constituting the global workforce are dependent upon having access to an adequate supply of water and water-related services, including sanitation.
“Water shortages and lack of access may limit economic growth in the years to come. Furthermore, good access to drinking water and sanitation promotes an educated and healthy workforce, which constitutes an essential factor for sustained economic growth.”
The report cites numerous studies that show a positive link between investments in water and the economic sector.
Semi-arid countries such as Israel have one of the most successful irrigation schemes in the world.
Israel has managed to create a green, agricultural oasis in its arid landscape by spearheading water technology research.
The Israeli water industry is widely acknowledged as a world leader, especially with its market-leading entrepreneurial technologies in the areas of purification, water treatment, drip irrigation and water security.
Water poor countries in Asia and Africa are benefitting from Israeli-driven water technologies.
Online Reporter