Online Reporter
Business Reporter
Public-private partnerships are increasingly emerging as a powerful solution to Zimbabwe’s infrastructure challenges, particularly within the water sector.
In Harare, a collaboration between the City of Harare and Helcraw Water is demonstrating how innovative partnerships can modernise ageing water systems and improve service delivery for residents.
For years, Harare’s water infrastructure has faced immense pressure from population growth, decaying pipelines and outdated systems. Much of the city’s water network was installed decades ago and has deteriorated over time, leading to frequent bursts, leaks and significant water losses. Addressing these challenges requires both substantial investment and modern technologies to improve the efficiency of water distribution and management.
Through its partnership with the City of Harare, Helcraw Water is implementing a series of infrastructure upgrades designed to strengthen the city’s water network while introducing innovative solutions that support sustainable water management.
One of the major components of the programme is the installation of smart prepaid water meters across the capital.
As of 13 March 2026, more than 18,000 smart prepaid water meters have already been installed in Harare. These meters help households manage their water consumption more effectively while improving monitoring and efficiency across the city’s distribution system.
The rollout is expected to accelerate following the arrival of additional units. In the first quarter of 2026, Helcraw Water received approximately 60,000 smart prepaid meters, which are now in Zimbabwe and awaiting deployment in various suburbs as the project expands. The short-term goal of the programme is to install 320,000 smart prepaid water meters—a target that will scale up as the system continues to expand across the city.
Complementing the metering programme is a large-scale pipeline rehabilitation and replacement initiative. A significant portion of Harare’s water network still relies on ageing asbestos cement pipes that have reached the end of their lifespan. These are being replaced with modern PVC pipes, which are safer, more durable, and better suited for long-term water distribution.
The project aims to replace approximately 500 kilometres of ageing pipelines, significantly strengthening the reliability of the supply network. This replacement works in tandem with the installation of smart meters, ensuring that leakages are reduced while the efficiency of the entire water system improves.
Another key component of the partnership involves increasing the capacity of the Morton Jaffray Water Treatment Works, Harare’s main water treatment facility. Investments are being directed toward expanding the plant’s treatment capacity to 80 megalitres, enabling the city to better meet the growing demand for safe, treated water.
Together, these initiatives represent vital short-term goals that are expected to evolve as the city continues to modernise its water infrastructure. By strengthening treatment capacity, replacing outdated pipes, and introducing smart technology, the partnership between Helcraw Water and the City of Harare is supporting national efforts to improve service delivery. This remains a critical pillar in Zimbabwe’s vision of achieving an upper middle-income economy by 2030.
Peter Tanyanyiwa