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CHRA
observes World Water Day
Combined Harare
Residents Association (CHRA)
March 26, 2009
The Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA)
joins Zimbabwe and the rest of the world in observing the World
Water Day on the 22nd of March 2009. The day comes at a time when
Harare (and Zimbabwe as a whole) is facing acute water shortages
which have sparked the worst cholera outbreak ever that has claimed
more than 4000 lives countrywide. ZINWA's ineffective water
management in Harare culminated in acute shortages of clean water
which resulted in the Cholera outbreak in Harare (Budiriro and Glen
View being the most affected) and other cities and subsequently
plunged the whole country into one of the largest public health
crisis of our time. The 2009 World Water Day coincides with the
undesirable water crisis persisting in the city of Harare as delay
and uncertainty mars the smooth transfer of water from Zinwa to
the City Council.
The
city's water supply system is marred with burst water pipes
as a result of the obsolete water equipment that is poorly maintained.
The pumping stations are reportedly in a dilapidated state, water
purification chemicals are in short supply against the background
that Harare water is heavily polluted. Residents in parts of Mabvuku-Tafara,
Masasa Park, Mandara, and Glen Lorne last received water more than
a year ago and continue to live without access to clean water. The
majority of residents in these and other areas continue to fetch
water from unprotected sources.
CHRA believes
that the cholera pandemic can only be eradicated if the water problems
are solved. The Association appreciates and commends the great work
that has been done by various NGOs in trying to alleviate the water
shortages in Harare. However, the permanent solution to this water
problem is a complete overhaul of the obsolete water infrastructure
and the setting up of proper and effective water management systems
so as to guard against incidences of corruption and mismanagement.
This is also the only way in which the cholera pandemic can be eradicated.
Water
supply and the sewer system
There was a
burst pipe of clean water at Corner Robert Mugabe and 4th Street
in the City centre. Clean water gushed out of the burst pipe for
more than three days during the past week. Another burst pipe is
leaking thousands of cubic meters of treated water near Rufaro Stadium.
The City of Harare has been loosing millions of litres of treated
water due to burst water pipes that are seldom attended to. These
burst pipes are just adding to numerous others around the city that
are leaking treated water. Residents in Mabelreign, especially those
who live along Harare Drive sometimes go for days without water
supplies yet there is a bust pipe that is along Harare Drive that
has not been fixed for more than a year now. Residents usually resort
to the spot where the water is leaking when supplies to their tapes
are discontinued. There is also another burst water pipe near the
Warren Hills Heroes Acre where water is jetting out to a height
of more than 10 meters. This pipe has been leaking clean water since
2007.
The problem
of burst sewer pipes remains unsolved and residents have called
on the responsible authorities to look into this issue as a matter
of urgency. Kambuzuma, Rugare, Kuwadzana, Glen Norah, Budiriro and
Highfield remain the most affected areas in the city.
Electricity
supply
ZESA has reduced
its electricity tariffs by between 29 and 45 % after the residents
and business community raised an outcry over the exorbitant electricity
bills that the power utility has been sending to residents. Most
companies had complained that electricity bills were taking almost
90 % of their monthly expenditures. The Ministry of Energy and Power
Development had given the power utility the green light to charge
residents a flat fee of US$10 (ZAR100) while businesses were required
to fork out US$100 (ZAR1000) until new electricity tariffs had been
set up. However, the new electricity bills served by ZESA indicated
an almost 400% tariff increase; a situation that drew an outcry
from residents who pointed out that they were not using much electricity
due to the widespread intermittent power cuts. The tariffs have
been reduced from 9c/KWh to 7,53c/KWh (although this will be lower
for domestic users).
Breadbasket
Most retail
shops are now selling cooking oil for ZAR25 with a few still trading
at ZAR28.
Health
Harare recorded
148 cholera cases on the 13th of March 2009 and 66 cases between
the 15th and 16 of March. The cholera cases have been increasing
due to the continued water shortages in the city. However the response
to the cholera outbreak ahs significantly improved due to the intervention
strategies by NGOs like UNICEF, WHO and OXFAM.
Waste
Management
Piles of uncollected
refuse continue to grow in most high density areas due to the continuous
failure by the City of Harare to collect refuse. Shopping centres
like Makomva in Glenview, Glen View 1 Shopping Centre, Budiriro
2 Shopping Centre, Kamunhu in Mabvuku and Chitubu in Glen Norah
continue to be surrounded by informal dumping sites. Residents have
raised concern over the unhygienic conditions that are being caused
by the piles of refuse at shopping centres and they have warned
that this will exacerbate the cholera outbreaks if they are not
removed immediately.
Conclusion
CHRA urges the
City of Harare to make concerted efforts to renovate and improve
the water infrastructure in Harare so as to ensure that residents
get constant and adequate supplies of clean water. The Association
believes that the cholera situation can only be dealt with effectively
if the water problems in the city are solved. CHRA will continue
to advocate for quality and affordable municipal services and a
good, transparent and accountable local governance system in Harare
(and beyond).
Visit the CHRA
fact
sheet
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