Source: Community Water Alliance
The City of Harare Water Team which comprise of Harare Water, civil society organizations, residents associations, NGOs and academia met today 31/10/16 to review progress on the targets set on water service delivery and waste water works. Community Water Alliance is part of this ambitious plan to address the water crisis in Harare Metropolitan Province.
Eighteen days have since elapsed and eighty two days remains to fulfill the tasks at hand. The meeting noted that water production stands at 400mgl/day against the target of 450mgl/day. Water bursts have increased from 174 to 194. Major bursts on trunk mains have increased from 10 to 12. Of the 45 sites targeted for pipe replacement only one site has been attended to. Unaccounted for water ( which include leakages, residents who are not metered) stands at 59%. Conventional meter replacements have been earmarked for Belvedere (4500), Kuwadzana (7400) and the Central Business District (800). Only 53 conventional meters have been replaced in Belvedere due to resistance from residents.
Harare Water targets training of 480 staff so as to change work culture. Only 120 staff members have been trained as a result of resources constrains.
Challenges still remain in engaging residents, enhancement of revenue collection and ensuring political will.
There is a salary backlog of 7 months for Harare Water employees.
The pond construction at Marlborough Wastewater works is now open for informal tender whilst Crowborough Wastewater works is still at designing stage.
Community Water Alliance commends Harare Water for fixing a decade long burst sewer pipe at Njanike. We want to encourage residents in Belvedere, the CBD and Kuwadzana to embrace conventional water meters and pay for water services rendered. These are not pre-paid water meters which residents have rejected.
The issue of gender mainstreaming that also raised as a key area.
The main issue that Community Water Alliance would want to state is that let’s embrace the component of sustainability in water service deliery, as envisaged in the SDG 6. The Government of Zimbabwe and its tiers should protect the natural infrastructure of water. Wetlands are an important water source. Protect and preserve wetlands; fix unaccounted for water; stop pouring raw sewage into streams that feed into Lake Chivero.
Source: Community Water Alliance