Harare water woes worsen

Spiwe Sarakunze and Obey Musiwa

PARTS of Harare, where most suburbs are lucky to get water for a few hours a day, are now facing even worse shortages.

The Avenues area, for example, has gone for nearly two weeks without water.

The lack of clean water has made it increasingly difficult for residents to maintain hygiene, especially in the city centre where safe water is not provided and businesses have to have water trucked in.

Harare City Council spokesperson, Mr Stanley Gama, yesterday acknowledged the limited water supply from Morton Jaffray Water Works.

“The city, especially Harare Central Business District, is not getting enough water supply from Morton Jaffray Water Works, hence in some places, we have been receiving reports on the crisis.

“Despite the limited water supply, the places receiving city council water are under management and maintenance,” he said.

A resident of the Avenues, Mrs Tafadzwa Kaeresera, said they have endured over two weeks without water and are now scared of health hazards.

“It has been two consecutive weeks without water. In the event someone has a running tummy, it becomes a crisis and we implore Government to intervene,” she said.

Most residents have since resorted to unsafe water sources, contributing to the spectre of diarrhoeal diseases.

Residents are demanding immediate action from the Harare City Council, whose incompetent leadership has stunned people by their levels of corruption.

Northern and eastern suburbs have had little municipal water for more than 15 years.