Govt sets up technical team for Harare water woes

Harare (New Ziana) – Government has appointed a 19-member technical team to assist the Harare City Council to resolve water challenges currently bedevilling the capital.

The technical committee’s term shall initially be for 100 days.

Speaking at the team’s meeting on Monday, the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Dr Anxious Masuka said he was mandated by the constitution of the country to ensure that water was available to all citizens.

“The Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development wishes to advise the public that in terms of Section 6 of the Water Act (Chapter 20:24), Government has appointed a Technical Team to assist the City of Harare to resolve water challenges currently bedevilling the capital,” said Dr Masuka.

He said Section 6, Subsections (a) and (c) of the same Act, mandates the Minister responsible for water to ensure the availability of water to all citizens for their primary purposes.

“Pursuant to this mandate and on the backdrop of the water challenges being experienced in Harare, a technical team has thus been appointed with members drawn up from Government ministries, Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA), Environment Management Agency (EMA), Harare Metropolitan province, City of Harare, Norton Town Council, Chitungwiza Municipality, Epworth Local Board, the academia and an independent consultant to assist the City of Harare in resolving its water challenges,” Dr Masuka said, adding that he reserved the right to appoint additional members to the committee, should the need arises.

He said the terms of reference for the technical committee were to increase and maintain water production to around 520 ML per day, to reduce non-revenue water from 59 percent to 55 percent and to ensure improved portable water supply coverage in the city from 40 to 60 percent.

Other terms of reference for the technical committee include to improve sanitation, reduce sewer leakages and increase treatment of wastewater generated in the city to above 50 ML per day and to ensure consistent and adequate supply of water treatment chemicals as well as recommend institutional strengthening required to improve water and sanitation service delivery.

The technical committee has also been tasked to produce short, medium and long term plans for sustainable improvement of water and sanitation services for the City of Harare.

“The Government is fully committed to resolving Harare water challenges and that of other cities, rural and urban centres and will continue to do everything possible to ensure that residents get water on a sustainable basis,” he said.

Last year, Government handed over equipment bought under a US$9.3 million Treasury facility to Harare City Council and other local councils for water production following intervention by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

Additional government funding was made available through devolution disbursements.

New Ziana