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Zinwa to return water, sewer management to Council: A long overdue move
Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA)
February 04, 2009

It is lamentable that it had to take thousands (over 3000) of lives to be lost to the cholera epidemic before the ZANU PF Government came to the realization that the ZINWA takeover of water and sewer reticulation services from urban councils was a disastrous move. Almost all areas, residential and otherwise had to go without water for long periods. Raw sewerage has become a nauseating eyesore as a result of unattended burst sewer pipes. All these, coupled with the unclean water that residents have been receiving, have been salient pointers to Zinwa's incapacity.

The resident's (CHRA) and other progressive forces and individuals warned of the negative effects of the takeover and kept on calling for the return of the water and sewer reticulation services to the local authorities but the government turned a deaf ear. However, after more than 3000 lives were lost to cholera, it has 'dawned' on the defacto government that the ZINWA takeover was a mistake that culminated into a national disaster. The Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) welcomes the long and overdue decision to return water and sewer reticulation management to the City of Harare and other local authorities around the country. Nonetheless CHRA holds the ZANU PF Governement and ZINWA management responsible for the cholera catastrophe and is pressing ahead with the lawsuit. The Association also notes and holds the same accountable for the destruction of the Harare water supply system due to negligence by ZINWA.

It is disappointing to note that the defacto government did not bother to admit failure and also to apologize to residents for the suffering that they went through. The Zinwa take over of the water and sewer management had deprived the City of Harare of, among other things, over 89% worth of revenue, capacity to attract investment and giving them concessionary rates, asserts like vehicles, worthy and fruitful cooperation with the private sector and other stakeholders in providing water, sewer and other services to the residents. The parastatal went on to mismanage the water supply and sewer reticulation system, culminating in further deterioration of the infrastructure and service provision.

CHRA will continue to advocate for effective, transparent, non-partisan and affordable service delivery. The Association will continue to mobilize residents to effectively participate in decision making at local and central government levels to ensure accountable, legitimate and democratic leadership.

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