Owen Dhliwayo,

The Harare City Council issued a statement this Wednesday informing residents of the temporary de-commissioning of Prince Edward water treatment plant near Chitungwiza as the two dams that feed into waterworks have dried up.

According the HCC statement the temporary closure will affect water supply in several residential areas such as Chitungwiza, Hatfield, Airport, Waterfalls and Msasa.

“Prince Edward will only be recommissioned most likely during the coming rainy season. This decision will likely affect areas such as Chitungwiza, Hatfield, Airport, Waterfalls and Msasa,” reads the City Council’s statement.

Civil rights organization and residents’ associations have however slammed the council’s decision and warned of an eminent humanitarian crisis within the city and surrounding areas.

Combined Harare Residents Association, issued a statement in reactionary statement warning of a possible humanitarian situation exacerbated by the water scarcity.

“The Combined Harare Residents Association is warning of a serious humanitarian disaster if urgent contingency plans are not put in place. The decommissioning of Prince Edward waterworks has increased water supply deficit in the city and worsened the ongoing water crisis, impacting residents of Harare and Chitungwiza,” reads CHRA statement.

According to CHRA the decommissioning of Prince Edward waterworks a vital source of water for many residents in Harare and Chitungwiza was done without adequate warning or contingency measures leaving thousands without access to water.

In Chitungwiza residents are expressing serious concern over the Council’s decision to decommission water works instead of coming up with alternative, sustainable ways of ensuring service delivery for residents in urban areas.

“The decommissioning of the city waterworks without alternative water supply is catastrophic especially as there have been serious cases of cholera that have been reported since last year. It shows government and council’s reluctance in addressing the pandemic,” said Florence Matikinye a resident from Zengeza 3, Chitungwiza.

While residents are in despair due to the scarcity of water as reliable supply has been affected by the impact of climate change that has led to El Nino induced droughts. The Constitution according to section 77, mandates the state to take measures to provide for the basic human right.

Section 77 of the Constitution states that every person has the right to safe, clean and potable and the state must take reasonable legislative and other measures to achieve the progressive realization of this right.

“We have no other source of water, and now we will be forced to rely on untreated water supply from shallow wells and boreholes. Between now and the next rains without access to water will be a health catastrophe,” said Chenai Abraham, a resident from Waterfalls.

According to CHRA, the stoppage of water production which was 350 megaliters per day, has resulted in a daily loss of 70-80 megaliters of water.

“This has increased the water supply deficit in the city and worsened the ongoing water crisis impacting resident in Harare and Chitungwiza. In the upcoming days we foresee an increase in conflicts and gender-based violence at public water points as residents compete to access water and mechanisms to protect women and girl’s rights from all forms of violence at public water points must be put in place,” reads CHRA’s statement.

CHRA further states that the lack of investment in water infrastructure has put a strain on health budget as government and City of Harare are constantly responding to waterborne disease outbreaks.

“We implore the government of Zimbabwe to expedite the process of completing Kunzvi dam as an alternative raw water source for Harare. We recommend that City of Harare must have a budget line for disaster risk reduction and climate action planning,” reads the CHRA statement.