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Water shortage reflects ZINWA's failure
Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA)
June 25, 2007

THE failure by the Zimbabwe National Water Authority to supply water to residents in the western suburbs must be viewed in the context of capacity of the water authority to serve Harare residents. Shortages of water in Msasa Park, Glen Norah, Glen View, Kuwadzana and Budiriro have brought to the fore the challenges that residents continue to face under the illegal commission running the City of Harare and a partisan water authority.

As residents struggle to make ends meet, water shortages and other basics must be the last thing on their mind. More pressing issues of governance transport and bread must be occupying their minds.

It is unfortunate that Harare residents have been cursed with a Commission that lacks both the mandate and the legitimacy to run a powerful institution like the City of Harare. Those men and women have no vision. That explains why on their day of appointment in December 2004, Minister Ignatius Morgan Chiminya Chombo directed them to handover our water infrastructure to ZINWA. They did not have the stamina to reject the minister's directives.

Residents are now paying the price of partisan decision-making.

The Parliament of Zimbabwe has recommended that Cabinet re-considers its ill-advised decision to allow ZINWA to take over water supply, administration, and billing and sewer reticulation from local authorities. Zimbabwe's Senate, comprising a majority Zanu PF supporters also rejected the ZINWA takeover. Ironically Chombo and Munacho Mutezo belong to the same party as the legislators and senators who have established beyond reasonable doubt that ZINWA has no capacity.

Disease outbreaks look more imminent than ever since ZINWA took over our water infrastructure without paying a cent to the City of Harare. We warn those in authority to be mindful of the real threat of a health disaster if they refuse to listen to residents of Harare. We have to judge them by their actions when faced with a health crisis of this magnitude.

CHRA continues to demand the immediate restoration of legitimate authority to manage the resources of Harare in line with court judgments listed below:

• High Court, Hungwe J. HH 210/2001 (CHRA and Another vs. RG),
• HH 80/ 2005 Makarau J (Christopher Magwenzi Zvobgo vs. City of Harare and Dominic Muzawazi),
• Sandura J (Stevenson vs. Minister of Local Government and Others SC 38/02) and HC12862/00,
• Justice J. Chinengo-HH24-2002, and
• Justice Kamocha ruling -HH 13-2007/ HC5604/06 (Nomutsa Chideya vs. City of Harare, the eight commissioners and the probe team that recommended Chideya's dismissal)

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