Harare threatens to hang dormitory towns to dry ov...

Harare threatens to hang dormitory towns to dry over US$1.3 billion water debt

Zim Now Writer

City of Harare is considering cutting water supplies to its dormitory towns to levels that they can afford.

File pic of residents drawing water at a borehole

“We will have service level agreement where we provide water that a city can pay for to cut their lots to the size of their pockets,” said Mayor Jacob Mafume at a press conference convened after a meeting with respective mayors of the three towns.

Mayors Kiven Mutimbanyoka (Chitungwiza), Sylvester Gumisirai (Norton) and Clr Kizito Chivafa (Ruwa) were in attendance.

The meeting was aimed at discussing long-term solutions to the water crises bedeviling Harare and matters around infrastructural development.

Cumulatively, the dormitory towns of Chitungwiza, Ruwa and Norton owe the City of Harare US$1.3 billion worth of water charges.

Chitungwiza owes the city ZWL$500 million, Ruwa ZWL$100 while Norton owes about ZWL$571 million.

Mafume said the dormitory towns must pay for what they consume to facilitate procurement of water chemicals.

Harare City acknowledged the immediate need to restore an adequate and coordinated flow to the capital and its dormitory towns.

“We need to engage government and other organisations to invest in water, and taxpayers to meet their obligations as well so that we harness enough revenue to develop the water infrastructure,” Clr Mafume said.

He said only about 300 000 out of 4 million households being serviced by Harare Water are being rated and therefore shouldering the bulk of the expenses for the city.

Harare has, meanwhile, resolved to assist Chitungwiza in building a new dam and a water plant treatment plant, emphasizing the need to also resuscitate the Norton water treatment plant which could contribute around 60-100 mega litres.