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Municipal Reporter
Serious water woes bedevilling Harare for at least a month now are likely to continue as the council yesterday struggled to give a solid immediate plan to end the shortages, instead resolving to push for water rationing.
The CCC-led municipality, during a special council meeting on water yesterday, conceded to being incapacitated to provide water for the city blaming shortage of treatment chemicals.
Harare City Council said it is currently producing at least 300 megalitres daily against a daily demand of 800 megalitres.
A snap survey by our publication, however, revealed that most suburbs, including some cholera hotspots such as Budiriro and Glen View had been dry for almost a month now.
A Tynwald resident, Mr Arnold Mutonhodzi, said the area has been experiencing water woes for a month now.
“It is now 28 days without water. We are just tired of excuses. We hardly pass a month without a notice that the council is either rehabilitating Morton Jaffray water works or it has run short of treatment chemicals.
“The opposition councillors have simply failed to give direction. We just need new blood at the town house. The current crop only thinks of trips where they milk ratepayers money,” he said.
A Warren Park resident at Mutomba Shopping Centre area, Mrs Agnes Chuma said erratic water supplies has become the norm.
“What pains me the most is we live just a few metres away from Warren control pump station from where water is distributed, but we hardly receive it.
“Imagine those living at the periphery of Harare in areas like Mabvuku. This council is a shame both officials and councillors should do the honourable thing and resign,” she said.
A Budiriro resident, Mr Tichaona Jangara said the council should avoid taking residents for a ride.
“When it is about their welfare, they run around, but on service delivery they drag their feet. It is actually shocking and disgraceful that a capital city for that matter has the audacity to issue a statement that it has run out of the water treatment chemicals,” he said.
Ward 41 Clr Kudzai Kadzombe speaking during a special council meeting on water challenges yesterday even conceded that council was billing residents for non-consumed water.
“In ward 41 we have not received water for the past two months but it has been billed,” she said.
During the special council meeting chaired by Mayor Jacob Mafume CCC councillors spent the better part of the day blaming management, although themselves failed to proffer a solid direction as policy makers.
The meeting was scheduled to commence at 11 but began one hour 20 minutes later, with acting director of water Engineer Victor Musikavanhu attributing woes to lack of essential water treatment chemicals.
Environment Management Committee CCC Clr Blessing Duma moved two motions including one that the council looks for other alternative suppliers of chemicals and that there should be water rationing whenever there is a crisis.
In a statement after the meeting Harare City Council said while some areas that were at least accessing water had low pressure.
“The City of Harare is advising residents and stakeholders that water production at Morton Jaffray averaged 230 megalitres and Prince Edward 80 mega litres giving a total of 310 ML over the past 24 hours,” reads the statement.
“Supplies are expected to improve as chemical stocks improve and other mechanisms for equitable distribution are being explored.”
Online Reporter