admin
Rumbidzayi Zinyuke, Senior Reporter
THE private sector is set to play a pivotal role in driving key service delivery initiatives across the country, as Government seeks innovative solutions to address issues including water shortages in Harare.
The Ministry of Local Government and Public Works and the City of Harare recently signed an agreement with Helcraw Electricals and Hangzhou Laison Technology Company for the supply of smart water meters.
This is meant to ensure guaranteed flows of the money needed to repair, maintain and expand water supplies and stop the charging for water supplies that are not delivered.
Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe on Wednesday said the privatisation of Harare water supply was not meant to take away Harare City’s powers but was aimed at improving the whole value chain of water supply.
“We are not only privatising water, but we are also privatising service delivery. The private sector has a role to play in the development of our local authorities through service delivery, and water is one of them. It is not that we are taking the responsibility from the City of Harare or any other city but we know that there are certain areas in Harare that do not receive a single drop of water but residents are paying for that water.
“We also have areas where water is not properly purified because of the challenges that we have in Lake Chivero and Morton Jeffery in terms of the purification system. So we want to put order in the water supply value chain, and we said let’s invite the private sector who will ensure that we purify the water, be responsible for the conveyancing of the water, they will be also responsible for the billing and installation of smart water metering systems,” he said.
Minister Garwe said the initiative would plug leaks, improve the purification system at Morton Jeffrey Waterworks, and introduce smart water metering systems to ensure residents only pay for the water they receive.
This would make water cheaper than it currently is.
Minister Garwe said the privatisation of water was not only being done in Zimbabwe but in many other countries, including South Africa.
He said the benefit would not only be to the consumers but also to Harare City which would get a portion of the proceeds from the sale of water.
“In the agreement that we signed, there is Local Government as an overseer, but primarily the contract is between the City of Harare and the investor. And the city has got a portion which comes directly to them. An escrow account will be created where when you pay for your water, the money goes into an escrow account. That which is supposed to go to the investor goes to the investor. That which is supposed to go to the city of Harare will go to the city of Harare. And you get your clean water,” Minister Garwe said.
Furthermore, a new water treatment plant will be constructed in Mabvuku to process water from Kunzvi, Machekeranwa, and Wenimbi Dams for northern and eastern Harare and satellite towns. Mabvuku is close to the highest point in Harare Metropolitan, and is much higher than more hilly areas like Glen Lorne and Borrowdale. This initiative is expected to reduce the cost of water treatment chemicals and enhance water quality.
The move to engage the private sector in water delivery follows the success of the Geo-Pomona project, which has significantly improved solid waste management in Harare.
“Privatisation is the way to go. We want to motivate our domestic private sector and attract foreign investors to participate in service delivery,” said Minister Garwe.
The City of Harare had earlier appealed for Government intervention, declaring that they were owed more than US$5 million by rate payers and this was hampering its ability to provide essential services.
The initiative is part of the government’s broader strategy to leverage private sector investment to address infrastructure challenges and improve living conditions for residents.
Online Reporter