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City of Harare embarks on a water disconnection spree
Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA)
March 17, 2010

The Combined Harare Residents Association is deeply concerned by the reports that it has received from the residents of Mufakose who have raised an outcry on the water disconnection exercise that is currently being conducted by the Harare City Council. The exercise comes at a time when the residents of Mabvuku-Tafara are struggling to combat the typhoid outbreak that has since claimed five lives.

CHRA understands that the city of Harare's Department of Health is making efforts to deal with the typhoid outbreak in Mabvuku but the water disconnection exercise actually defeats such efforts as it has the potential to create a similar situation in Mufakose. One would expect the City of Harare to at least focus on how the outbreak can be contained and also ensure that other suburbs have adequate supplies of clean water so as to prevent the spread of the outbreak.

The City Council disconnected water for outstanding bills in Mufakose yesterday and about 150 families were affected. Mukonde and Msasa streets near OK shopping centre in Mufakose Ward 36 are the most affected. The CHRA Coordinator for Mufakose Ward 34 expressed his disappointment with the City of Harare saying that Council seems to be more concerned about fundraising rather than the welfare of residents. While residents are cognizant of the fact that bills must be paid so as to enable the Council to continue operating, concerns have been raised over the exorbitant water bills that are usually based on estimates; a situation that has seen most residents failing to pay their bills in full. Most residents in high density areas are executing part payments of their water bills as they cannot afford to pay the high amounts being demanded by the Harare Water. Residents have said that they have been in debt since the dollarization of the economy that saw the City of Harare converting bills that were quoted in Zimbabwe Dollars into US dollars. The converted amounts were so high that residents were not able to pay up and this has resulted in the bills accruing to even larger amounts. The average monthly water charges are within the range of US$17-25 in high density areas but most of the residents who have had their water disconnected have bills that have accrued to an average of at least US$100.

CHRA urges the City of Harare to seriously consider the implications of disconnecting water supplies to residents especially considering the fact that Harare is still vulnerable to diseases caused by acute water shortages. These residents have no other sources of water and it is likely that they will resort to unprotected water sources. The Council should come up with other safe ways of motivating residents to pay their bills as disconnecting water will certainly expose them to diseases like cholera and Typhoid. CHRA values the health of residents and the Association will continue to advocate for good, transparent and accountable local Governance as well as lobby for quality municipal services.

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