THE water crisis in the capital Harare has deepened with most suburbs remaining dry, according to a statement issued by the Combined Harare Residents’ Association (CHRA).
CHRA says suburbs such as MabvukuTafara, Highlands, Chisipite, Hatfield, Glen Lorne, Kuwadzana Extension, Avondale, Gun Hill and Waterfalls are amongst the areas hard hit by the water crisis.
The association blames low staff moral, shortage of water treatment chemicals, weak management, government decision to take away water supply responsibility from the council to the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) and the collapsing sewer reticulation system for the city of Harare, for the water crisis being faced in the country.
“Low staff moral and the subsequent lack of commitment is one of the chief reasons why it takes ages for ZINWA to reconnect water supplies where a breakdown would have occurred or supplies cut,” said the CHRA statement.
CHRA also contends that: “ZINWA has also run out of water treatment chemicals, a situation that has led to a massive decrease in the water production. With water production remaining very low, there is no hope that ZINWA will be able to bring back water supply to those areas that are already dry.”
CHRA was troubled by the government’s decision not to reverse its decision in giving responsibility of running water supply management to ZINWA from the city council. They believe the handover of responsibility was “the backbone of the water crisis.”
The association said it was “in solidarity with Mayors Masunda and Marange’s call for the reversal of the ZINWA takeover” and reasserted their “demand for the return of water supply management to Town House.”
The association also said it was encouraged by the progress gradually being made by the new council’s refuse collection initiatives.
CHRA said the Reserve Bank governor’s call for an income freeze was ineffectual as it was impossible to freeze prices in such a hyperinflationary environment. The association said, “to freeze salaries is to further condemn the residents and indeed the rest of the citizens deeper into poverty. The wages and salaries are already low as inflation erodes the purchasing value.”
CHRA also said that for the BACCOSSI programme to work it should be depoliticized and all Zimbabweans, regardless of their political affiliation, should access it. They also called on the NGO ban to be lifted in order for the initiatives to complement each other.
