Harare water woes mount

Heather Charema
Harare’s dire water situation has worsened following a power surge that blew up a transformer at the Morton Jaffray Water treatment plant on Thursday night. Residents in most of the city’s suburbs woke up to dry taps yesterday and the situation is likely to persist as the city fathers work on restoring supplies.

In a statement yesterday, Town Clerk Dr Tendai Mahachi disclosed that the water treatment plant is experiencing electricity challenges.
“The affected transformer has resulted in limited power supply to the works and most areas of the city are therefore not accessing water.

“The city is in consultation with Zesa to ensure that power is restored and water supplies are improved as pumping capacity is resumed,” he said.
However, Dr Mahachi did not give a timeline as to when the problem will be rectified. Residents who spoke to The Sunday Mail yesterday said the latest development has worsened an already dire situation.

Mr Eliot Zimondi of Mufakose said running water is available for only three days a week in his area.
“In Mufakose we are receiving water three days in a week and during weekends we do not receive a drop of water,” he said. Budiriro resident Ms Petronella Murwira said parts of the suburb only receive water during the night.

“We are only receiving water during nights and we have to collect water in containers which will sustain us till the next night,” said Ms Murwira.
The city is currently refurbishing the plant through a US$144 million loan advanced by the China Eximbank in 2011. The rehabilitation of the plant is expected to increase output from the current 450 megalitres of water to 640 megalitres.

The 42 percent increase will bring water to the perennially dry parts of the city, some of which have not had water for the better part of the last five years.