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City of Harare directs water disconnections to industries - Weekly City Watch
Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA)
May 21, 2010

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The Harare City Council has been disconnecting water to industrial companies that have outstanding water bills. Light industries in the Graniteside, area are the most affected; a situation that has negatively impacted on the productivity of the said industries. Industrial workers who spoke to CHRA expressed their disappointment at what the Council had done saying that the toilets at their places of work have become a health time-bomb due to water shortages.

This exercise comes hardly a week after the city of Harare decided to combine water bills with those of other services like refuse collection and housing charges. This move has seen most bills, both domestic and commercial, skyrocketing by more than 100%. Most domestic bills are within the range of $300-$500 while commercial bills range from $500-$1000. Residents who have fallen into this predicament are those who partially paid their bills due to the failure by the City of Harare to deliver some services e.g. refuse collection and road maintenance.

Kambuzuma

Section 3 experienced water cuts for the whole day on Sunday from 6am to around 5pm. Residents in Section 2 and West hood continue to experience water problems as they are situated on high level ground. The water pressure is low and at times there is no water at all. Water bills are ranging from $10 to$12. The City Council has been disconnecting water for defaulters.

Refuse was only collected once during the past two weeks.
Power cuts have been occurring on a daily basis during the week from 5am to around 10 pm at night .

Mabvuku

The New Stands area near Lafarge Cement is still experiencing acute water shortages. A survey that was made by CHRA revealed that, although other parts of Mabvuku and Tafara are getting regular water supplies, the New Stands area has not yet been delivered from dry spells. Residents who live in Chivake, Mupfure, Rwenya, Hunyani, Mutuwa and Shashe streets sometimes go for two weeks without water. There was actually no water during the time when CHRA was interviewing residents. The Chairperson for Mabvuku ward 19, Joseline Manyeruke, said that the problem is affecting women the most as well as girl children as they are the ones who have to go and look for water. There nearest borehole is at a place called Crocs which is about a kilometre away.

Mabelreign

Water supplies have improved since last week especially in the Sentosa area as well as Zambezi flats which had been experiencing dry spells for months. There is a burst sewer pipe at Block one Zambezi Flats and residents have said that children are in danger of contracting diarrhoea from the raw sewer if the situation is not attended to urgently.

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