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Petition on ZINWA's management of municipal water supplies and sewerage reticulation
Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (ZIMCODD)
October 07, 2008

The Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (ZIMCODD) writes to bring to your attention citizens' concerns over the crisis of people's lack of access to safe treated water, and effective sewage reticulation. ZIMCODD, which was established in February 2000, is a socio-economic justice coalition made up of civic society organizations and individuals, with a mission to facilitate citizens' involvement in making public policy and practice pro-people and sustainable.

Enclosed in this letter, is a petition from 4,726 concerned members of society, and our members from Bulawayo, Chitungwiza, Harare and Mutare. Participants in this petition are joining organized residents' and rate payers' associations in seeking the review of ZINWA's de facto takeover of water distribution, administration and sewer reticulation in municipalities across the country. We take note that prior to the ZINWA takeover, most of the urban and local authorities were already independently and adequately serving the needs of the public. In this view, we believe that they only needed encouragement and assistance to do their duties effectively, and not to have their mandates usurped.

The process of signing on to this petition started in April 2007 due to water shortages prevailing at that time, and ZIMCODD's concerns over the apparent commodification of water provision, which is a basic human right according to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). This petition has gathered momentum in view of recent preventable Cholera related deaths which occurred in Chitungwiza and other affected municipalities.

We are concerned that since the take over by ZINWA, the water services delivery has continued to deteriorate, vindicating our initial concerns at the time of the take over. It is important to note that:

• ZINWA is reported to have publicly admitted that it has not been treating the more than 300 megalitres of waste produced in the capital, which is being discharged into Lake Chivero, Harare's main source of raw water.
• The crisis of collapsed sewage reticulation is exacerbated by rivers of raw effluent in the streets of Highfield, Nketa, Dulibadzimu, St Marys-Chitungwiza, Dzivarasekwa and many other suburbs in the country, placing children and other vulnerable groups at risk.
• ZINWA has failed to treat and pump adequate supplies of water, leaving urban homes dry and forcing residents to rely on unsafe sources. This is in contrast to leakages of huge amounts of treated water through burst pipes, which is on public record.
• ZINWA has reportedly admitted that they are not treating water at Morton Jaffray Water Treatment Plant, because its contractors have stopped delivering bulk ammonium sulphate from Zimphos in Masasa to the plant near Norton.
• Concerns have been raised by key state officials and institutions over ZINWA's capacity to deliver essential services. This includes a warning by the Comptroller and Auditor General, who warned that the authority had no capacity to provide clean water without disruptions, and the Reserve Bank Governor, who apart from instituting a bailout package for ZINWA, recently lamented the poor state of water and sanitation delivery by ZINWA in a recent monetary review statement, saying, "If ZINWA was a Bank, I would have put it under curatorship."
• Technical bodies such as the Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights (ZADHR) and the Community Working Group on Health (CWGH) have issued health warnings, which have been echoed by the Minister Health and Child Welfare.
• Water shortages have affected key public institutions which deliver social services, such as schools and hospitals.

We are concerned about the solutions that are being proffered by government because they are based on principles of privatisation which will further marginalize the poor. Already, some private companies have expressed their interest to take over water provision in a move that we interpret as a profit-making enterprise! We contend that the move to commercialize water is a step towards full privatization of water services.

To commercialize the supply of water means a basic right that is essential to health and life will be sold to citizens for profit. It is in the context that ZIMCODD adds voice to calls for the return of water provision and sanitation to municipalities. ZIMCODD will continue to consult, and work with residents and other stakeholders in search of a lasting solution to the water crisis. We are prepared to come and meet with you at your earliest convenience for discussions on these concerns and related matters.

Yours faithfully

J. Gokovah
ZIMCODD Chairperson

C.c. The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of State Water Resources and Infrastructural Development; The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and Urban Development; The Chairperson, ZINWA Board Chairperson

Visit the ZIMCODD fact sheet

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