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ZINWA must go! Residents maintain
Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA)
September 04, 2008

The Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) maintains that the city council must reclaim total control of the water supply and sewer reticulation management from the bankrupt Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA). The water and sewer crisis bedeviling the once sun shining city of Harare is a direct result of ZINWA's general incapacity to effectively execute the mammoth task of providing water to the residents. Recently the 'Deputy Minister' of Water and infrastructural development issued a statement that his 'Ministry' will engage the city council to address the water and sewer crisis. CHRA reasserts its position that ZINWA has failed and the city council must take charge now!

The dry spell that has befallen most Harare suburbs like Mabvuku-Tafara, Msasa Park and areas like Mandara clearly shows that ZINWA does not have what it takes to administer the water and sewer reticulation services in Harare. Most high density areas are drowned in pools of sewerage due to the unfixed burst sewer pipes. ZINWA is struggling to purchase chemicals to treat water. The institution is also failing to finance its wage bill and provide treatment as well as protective clothing to its employees. All this has resulted in low levels of water production in terms of both quality and quantity; while raw sewer bursts remain unattended. The water and sewer crisis in Harare has led to several diarrhea outbreaks.

It is against this background that residents submitted numerous petitions to ZINWA and the Ministry of Water and Infrastructural Development citing their discontent. The Combined Harare Residents Association also made submissions to the previous Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Local Government citing the same concerns.

The residents of Harare remind the 'Deputy Minister' that it is their right to have adequate and clean water supply as well as physical environment. CHRA unequivocally reasserts its position that the residents hold the previous Governement responsible for the water and sewer crisis and therefore hold the same Governement accountable for the horror the residents are suffering as well as the innocent lives that have been lost as a result of the diarrhea outbreaks. The Harare City Council must resume total control over the administration and provision of water and sewer services.

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