Online Reporter
Diana Nherera
Herald Reporter
HARARE Mayor Councillor Jacob Mafume said the City of Harare is cooperating with the central Government on prepaid water meters.
Chairing the 1944th Ordinary council meeting today at townhouse, Clr Mafume said 60 000 prepaid water meters are already in the country.
“5 422 meters have already been installed,” he said.
Cllr Mafume said the council is embarking on extensive repairs of the galvanised pipes that were leaking.
“We will install close to 322 000 prepaid water meters within Harare, and we are going to make sure that we replace prepaid water meters in Ruwa, Norton and so forth,” he said.
“We are going to buy seven to 10 pumps, which have already been paid for under that agreement.”
Cllr Mafume said the pumps were last installed in 1976.
He said council is replacing pumps at Darwendale.
“We have 500 kilometres that we are going to replace in the short to medium term,” said Cllr Mafume.
Cllr Mafume said he paid a courtesy call on President Emmerson Mnangagwa while he was on leave.
“I expressed our sincere gratitude for the assistance that we have been given by the Central Government up to this point,” he said.
“Indeed, we made requests for further assistance that we require. Geo Pomona is now a model dumpsite in the region.
“We have seconded 450 of our staff in the waste department in terms of our cooperative agreement, which did not lead to a loss of jobs but an increase in jobs.
“The contract is being perfected as we go, and can be a model to be used by other authorities. And it is reducing a lot of pressure on our savings.”
Cllr Mafume said there is need for enforcement on illegal dumping and to capacitate the municipal police to enforce the city’s bylaws.
“People are dumping where Geo Pomona is clearing,” he said.
Cllr Mafume said that because of vending and other habits council is going to be tough on littering.
“Now that we have a partner capable of moving the litter, we are going to introduce tougher measures for people who litter,” he said.
“People are cooking all sorts of things in First Street and eating them,” he said.
Clr Mafume said the lack of paving and lighting and other repairs in First Street are going to be a thing of the past.
