According to Zimbabwe’s new constitution, water is a basic human right. Section 77 of the Bill of Rights states, “Every person has right to safe, clean and potable water, and that the state must take reasonable legislative and other measures within its limit to achieve the progressive realisation of this right.”
Water supplies in Harare have come under severe strain due to increases in the capital city’s population leaving many residents disgruntled by regular long term water stoppages.
Despite the good work done by UNICEF and other international non-governmental organisations in drilling boreholes and sinking wells after the 2008 cholera outbreak, some of these boreholes are now dry. This is especially the case in high density areas such as Mabvuku, Mufakose and Epworth.
Some residents have resorted to sinking wells at the backyards of their house and are no longer sure of the safety of the water as there are sewer pipes that might burst and contaminate the water source.
Some city councils, including that of the capital city Harare have been proposing to install pre-paid water meters in order to raise more revenue from residents. This revenue, the city claims, would then be used to upgrade water supply systems.
Israel Mabhoo from the Harare Metropolitan Residents Forum (HAMREF) said that ‘water is one of the biggest revenue generators for city councils and therefore there are implications if water is privatized. One of which is that companies that are warded tenders to supply and maintain the meters will pursue profit at the expense of the right to access water’’.
Mabhoo further urged the public to block anything that will make water to be privatized.
Tinashe Gumbo a Masasa resident stated that, ‘In Masasa Park water only comes once a week’, he went on to question the unjustified water bills from the authorities who are ripping off residents, ‘ I am forced to pay for no water service’, he said
In some cases water bills for homes average $50 per month yet water is only accessible once or twice a week.
Many residents have resorted to buying water from certain individuals, while others purchase 5litre bottled ZLG or Schweppes water for drinking, which range from upwards of US$2,50 for every 5 litres.
Recently the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) launched a Water Harvesting scheme in areas like Mabvuku and Tafara which has been applauded by some residents for alleviating critical water shortages in their neighbourhoods.
